Pseudoephedrine legislation decreases methamphetamine laboratory-related burns

Pseudoephedrine (PSE) is one of the main ingredients used to manufacture methamphetamine (MA); approximately 700 to 1000 PSE pills are necessary to "cook" a batch of MA. Steps have been taken to decrease the availability of ingredients needed to concoct MA. On May 21, 2005, the state of Iowa enacted a strict law, making PSE a Schedule V Controlled substance, restricting PSE availability, and sales. Using the same 6-month time frames in 2004 and 2005, we retrospectively compared epidemiological data on burn patients in the year before the new PSE law and again immediately after the law was enacted. Data collected between May 21 to December 31, 2004 and 2005 included sex, age, length of stay, body surface area burn, urine drug toxicity status, insurance status, and cost of hospital stay. Reports on statewide MA laboratory incidents were provided by the Office of Drug Control Policy. In 2004, Iowa ranked second in the nation for MA lab incidents, seizing an average of 120 labs per month. In 2006, Iowa ranked eighth in the nation for MA lab incidents, when only 20 labs per month were seized, an 83% decreased from the previous year. By limiting the availability of PSE, Iowa saw a marked decrease in MA laboratory-related incidents, leading to a drastic decrease in MA related burns statewide.