Controled substances are  drugs or commodities regulated by federal or state law. The purpose of regulations is to control abuse, addiction, physical and mental harm or trafficking via harmful substances.

According to The Controled Substances Act (CSA),  “Title II of the Comprehensive Drug Abuse Prevention and Control Act of 1970 is a combination of numerous laws regulating the manufacture and distribution of narcotics, stimulants, depressants, hallucinogens, anabolic steroids, and chemicals used in the illicit production of controled substances.”

Hawaii state laws have been passed requiring mandatory identification and age checks for the purchase of tobacco and alcoholic beverages.

Recently added to that list of controled substances for CVS, formerly Longs, is nail polish remover due to the acetone ingredient. Customers must now be 18 years or older to purchase the remover.

According to Chief Special Agent for the Narcotics Enforcement Division Keith Kamita, “Those who cook crystal meth use acetone essentially to wash the product to make it look more appealing.”

Sudafed and other types of pseudoephedrine products used in managing colds and flu, have been tracked for years to eliminate meth use in Hawaii. Law enforcement developed a tracking system to apprehend those who go from store to store trying to buy such products and get around the restrictions.

Senior Nicole Corpus said, “Requiring consumers to be 18 years or older to purchase nail polish remover is a burden but because it is used to decrease meth labs movement here in Hawaii where my family and I live, I have no complaints. According to the statistics of regulating Sudafed and other types of pseudoephedrine, meth labs have gone down; therefore, our Narcotics Enforcement Division must know what needs to be done to keep decreasing meth movement.”

CVS is the only chain in the islands to restrict purchases and no other drug stores have yet followed suit.