Which precursor is a widely used decongestant and is listed separately as a precursor to dangerous drugs?

Which precursor is a widely used decongestant and is listed separately as a precursor to dangerous drugs?

• A. Phenyl-2-Propanone
• B. Pseudoephedrine
• C. Red Phosphorus
• D. Lithium + Anhydrous Ammonia

Answer: (B)

Pseudoephedrine is a decongestant found in many over-the-counter cold medicines, but it’s tightly regulated because it can be converted into methamphetamine. Because of this dual nature—legitimate medical use on one hand and potential for illicit drug manufacture on the other—pseudoephedrine is listed separately as a precursor to dangerous drugs, with purchase limits and recordkeeping requirements to prevent diversion. The other substances listed are chemical precursors used in illicit drug production, but they do not have the same broad, everyday medical use as a decongestant, so they don’t fit the stem as well.

Pseudoephedrine is a decongestant found in many over-the-counter cold medicines, but it’s tightly regulated because it can be converted into methamphetamine. Because of this dual nature—legitimate medical use on one hand and potential for illicit drug manufacture on the other—pseudoephedrine is listed separately as a precursor to dangerous drugs, with purchase limits and recordkeeping requirements to prevent diversion. The other substances listed are chemical precursors used in illicit drug production, but they do not have the same broad, everyday medical use as a decongestant, so they don’t fit the stem as well.