Law enforcement officials in Iowa, the state with the third-most methamphetamines lab seizures in the country, now have a new tool to combat the manufacture of the drug.

Meth Watch, an initiative to curb the proliferation of thefts and suspicious sales of over-the-counter drugs used to manufacture methamphetamine, is coming to Iowa during the next six months. A measure of the Consumer Healthcare Products Association, the program is currently being implemented across the state. It provides training for Iowa retailers to recognize buying patterns.

The products in question are those containing pseudoephedrine and other common household products that can be used in the production of methamphetamine. Some of the products on the watch list include cough and cold remedies, asthma and allergy medications, rubbing alcohol, drain cleaner, lighter fluid and lithium batteries.

Although the program calls for heightened awareness of the sale of products used in the manufacture of the drug, many Ames businesses said they’ve been practicing meth-conscious monitoring procedures for some time.

Carol Hively, Walgreens media relations specialist, said sales of products containing certain ingredients have been monitored for nearly two years.

“Walgreens voluntarily, about two years ago, started limiting the sale of products containing pseudoephedrine, and we programmed our registers to scan for those products,” Hively said. “Limit of no more than six grams per purchase of pseudoephedrine.”

Other stores have taken more comprehensive measures. Hy-Vee announced in January that it would take steps to limit access to the chemicals. Those products include Sudafed tablets, Dimetapp Extentabs, Dibromm Extended Release tablets, Drixoral 12-Hour Cold Tablets and Hy-Vee’s own Suphedrine brand tablets.

“We have to stop [meth production] at the point of manufacture, and that means making it much more difficult for the drug dealers to get their hands on pseudoephedrine,” Pearson said.

According to El Paso Intelligence Center data, Iowa ranks third on the national scale of meth lab seizures in the first three months of this year with 1,294, including 207 seizures of glass, chemicals and equipment, 590 dumpsites, and 497 laboratories. Only California and Missouri rank higher.

According to the U.S. Drug Enforcement Agency, the illegal drug market in the United States is one of the most profitable in the world.

Small-scale meth lab operators commonly buy over-the-counter pseudoephedrine products in small amounts from legitimate retailers.

However, these manufacturers are increasingly turning to stealing the products from pharmacies and convenience stores.

Story County is tied for eighth place among Iowa’s counties with meth lab and equipment seizures during the first five months of this year, along with Buchanan and Lee Counties. Polk County has the highest number of seizures in the state — with almost three times the number of Story County.