(NAPSA)}—Acold remedyis helping to curb a dangerous drug epidemic sweeping the nation. Sine- Off, a leading brandforcold, flu and sinusrelief for over 35 years,is joining the fight against the production and abuse of methamphetaminein communities across America. In 2004, Sine-Off started to completely reformulate by removing pseu- doephedrine, an essential ingredi- ent used in the production of methamphetamine. Sine-Offis now the first and only brand of cough, cold, flu and sinus medicine to completely reformulate, just in time for the upcoming 2005/2006 cold and flu season. The company has madeall of its products safe from potential meth conversion by using phenylephrine in place of pseudoephedrine. The sale and distribu- tion of pseudoephedrine-based products is being regulated in an increasing number of states in order to help halt the production and distribution of meth. As a result, many states now require customers to purchase medicine containing pseudoephedrine from the pharmacy counterin specified, limited quantities and only after showing proof of identification. With this reformulation, consumers will be able to purchase as much Sine-Off as they need directly off store shelves nationwide, instead of from behind the pharmacy counter. Hogil Pharmaceutical Corporation and its Sine-Off Charitable Foundation announcedthat it will provide an unrestricted educational grant to the Partnership for a Drug-Free America to support the Partnership’s education cam- paigns targeting meth abuse i, foe Goop News—Aleading cold and sinus medicine is now free of an ingredient used in making methamphetamine. across the country. Methamphet- amine is an addictive stimulant drug that can be taken orally, injected, snorted or smoked. Often called “crystal,” “ice” or “glass,” meth is available as a crystal-like powdered substance or in large rock-like chunks. Nationwide, approximately 12 million people have tried meth at least once, with 1.4 million people reporting use in the past year. The number of meth users who meet the criteria for illicit drug dependence or abuse skyrocketed 59.3 percent from 2002 to 2004, according to the National Surveys on Drug Use and Health. Sine-Off responded to new laws regulating the sale of pseudoephedrine by reformulating its entire line of products to replace pseudoephedrine, the active ingredient in many cold remedies also essential in the production of methamphetamine, with phenylephrine. To learn more, visit www.sineoff.com or www.drug free.org.
