Majority of Michiganders oppose prescription-only approach on popular medicines containing PSE

Sep 24 2013

The Consumer Healthcare Products Association (CHPA) released the following statement today on a recent poll of Michigan voters conducted by The Tarrance Group and underwritten by CHPA. The poll, which surveyed 500 Michigan voters September 10-12, found that a 67-percent-majority of Michiganders oppose a proposed law that would require all consumers to obtain a doctor's prescription before buying safe and effective cold and allergy medicines containing pseudoephedrine (PSE). Similarly, a 59-percent-majority said it would be somewhat or very inconvenient to obtain a prescription for those popular medicines.

"The findings of last week's Michigan poll are consistent with what we've seen across the country," said Scott Melville, president and chief executive officer of CHPA. "Law-abiding consumers oppose the prescription-only approach because it leads to unnecessary economic burdens produced by time off work and additional copays.  Penalizing honest consumers for the crimes of a criminal minority will not solve the state's problems.  If state officials want to effectively address the illegal sale of these medicines, they need to implement balanced policies that penalize criminals, not law-abiding citizens."

Key findings from the poll (Courtesy of The Tarrance Group): 

• By a large margin of 67%-23%, Michiganders oppose a proposal to require everyone who wants to buy decongestant cold or allergy medicines containing pseudoephedrine to first get a prescription from a doctor.   
   
• A significant majority (59%-23%) say that it would be somewhat or very inconvenient for them or a family member to have to obtain a doctor's prescription in order to purchase nonprescription cold and allergy medicines containing pseudoephedrine. 
   
• Among those who are "very aware" of Michigan's meth problem, 64% remain opposed to a prescription mandate for medicines containing pseudoephedrine, while only 28% indicate that they would be in favor of such a law.
   
• Michigan voters do not believe that a prescription mandate would impact the ability of meth criminals to get ahold of precursor chemicals. Eighty-two (82%) percent of those surveyed indicate they believe that, even if a prescription requirement were passed, meth criminals would still find ways to get what they need.

SOURCE Consumer Healthcare Products Association