THE easy way many potentially harmful drugs can be bought over-the-counter is to be raised with a Government minister by a Bolton MP.

Bolton South-east's Dr Brian Iddon voiced his worries on national TV at the weekend.

At present there is no legal requirement for drug companies or pharmacists to warn consumers if an over-the-counter product has a high potential for misuse.

Many drugs are now permitted to be sold without prescription. But Dr Iddon, a former research chemist who has brough the issue of drugs to the forefront since he became an MP in 1997, said: "I believe deregulation by the previous administration was a cost-cutting measure."

He plans to alert Health Secretary Frank Dobson that some seemingly harmless medicines can become addictive.

David Grieve, project director of "Overcount", an over-counter drugs information agency, was himself addicted to cough medicine.

Mr Grieve, who lives in Scotland, told the BEN that at the height of his addiction, he was drinking nine litres a week. Now he and his wife offer help and information to 6,500 people worldwide.

He said the problem is so bad that his agency runs a withdrawal programme to help wean people from all walks of life off their dependency on over-the-counter medicines.

His organisation is campaigning for the Product Licensing Authority - an independent government body - to be more accountable for its decisions.

INFORMATION and advice on over-the-counter drug dependency can be obtained from the Over-counter Drugs Information Agency, 20 Brewery Street, Dumfries. DG1 2RP. Scotland. Telephone: 01387 770404. (Send large 39 pence s.a.e.).

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