CHPA Statement on Statewide Indiana Consumer Poll - KWES NewsWest 9 / Midland, Odessa, Big Spring, TX: newswest9.com |

CHPA Statement on Statewide Indiana Consumer Poll

Information contained on this page is provided by companies via press release distributed through PR Newswire, an independent third-party content provider. PR Newswire, WorldNow and this Station make no warranties or representations in connection therewith.

SOURCE Consumer Healthcare Products Association

Clear Majority Opposes Prescription-Only PSE Requirements

WASHINGTON, March 4, 2013 /PRNewswire/ -- The Consumer Healthcare Products Association (CHPA) released the following statement today on a recent poll of Indiana voters conducted by The Polling Company and supported by CHPA. The poll, which surveyed 607 Hoosiers on February 4-6th, found that a 65 percent majority of Hoosiers opposed changing state law to require a doctor's prescription for cold and allergy medicines containing the decongestant pseudoephedrine (PSE).  The poll also found that 84 percent of respondents report they use PSE-containing medicines to treat common symptoms.

"The new Indiana survey is very important because in recent months, well-intentioned lawmakers have proposed legislation that would make it difficult for law-abiding Hoosiers to access the nonprescription medicines they know and trust," said Carlos Gutierrez, senior director of state government affairs for CHPA. "Clearly these proposals do not have the support of Indiana voters, many of whom sufferer from frequent cold and allergy symptoms. While we support efforts to combat the illegal sales of pseudoephedrine, lawmakers should advance solutions that target criminals, not honest citizens. To that end, CHPA is doing everything possible to help Senator Carlin Yoder garner support for his commonsense anti-meth bill, SB 496. Senator Yoder's bill would enhance the state's electronic PSE tracking system, implement stiffer penalties for meth-related crime, and apply sensible PSE purchasing limits."

Key findings from the poll:  

  • 84% of Hoosiers report they rely on the over-the-counter medicines containing pseudoephedrine that would be impacted by changing the law to require a doctor's prescription.
  • A 65%-majority of Hoosiers opposed changing the law to require a doctor's prescription for the purchase of cold and allergy medicines containing pseudoephedrine.  This total included 52% that STRONGLY opposed new rules for pseudoephedrine medicines that are currently sold over-the-counter.  In contrast, 29% of voters supported the new law.
  • By a 59%-35% spread, voters were more likely to agree "it is not worth inconveniencing, or possibly criminalizing law-abiding Hoosiers who benefit from over-the-counter cold or allergy medicines" than that "the benefits would outweigh the inconvenience or cost of a new law."
  • A 65%-majority were "less supportive" toward changing the law knowing that it could increase costs to taxpayers, as uninsured Hoosiers would have to visit emergency rooms to get prescriptions for these medicines.

CHPA is the 132-year-old-trade association representing U.S. manufacturers and distributors of over-the-counter medicines and dietary supplements.

chpa-info.org

©2012 PR Newswire. All Rights Reserved.