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ENLARGEUp on the issues
Blake Rice, the owner of the Riddle Pharmacy, is the president of the Oregon Board of Pharmacy. He travels the state and country to deal with pharmaceutical issues, including new proposed restrictions on sales of pseudoephedrine, an ingredient used to make methamphetamine.
RIDDLE -- Recent answers about some of the most debated topics in the pharmaceutical industry have been coming out of Riddle.
More specifically, they've been coming from Blake Rice, owner of the Riddle Pharmacy and president of the Oregon Board of Pharmacy.
Rice has been on the board for seven years and was appointed president in June. It's made him the focus of questions about subjects like methamphetamine use and Canadian drug suppliers.
"People don't realize how many counterfeit drugs are coming in through Canadian wholesalers," he said.
The fraudulent importers are good at what they do, Rice said, and need to be regulated. It's just one of the topics Rice has to stay current on.
The truth is, he doesn't mind.
For the Oregon Board of Pharmacy, Rice travels to Portland three times a month for meetings and is called to emergency sessions, like one recently conducted on methamphetamine abuse, ordered by Gov. Ted Kulongoski.
As a result of the meeting, pseudoephedrine, the primary ingredient in meth and available in over-the-counter cold medications, will now be sold from behind the counter. Identification will be required for purchase.
Previously, stores, including the Riddle Pharmacy, employed a "meth watch" -- a voluntary program supposed to prevent excess purchase of medicine containing pseudoephedrine.
Rice said more steps need to be taken to control the meth problem.
"It's just so tragic for everybody," he said.
Rice also travels all across the state and country speaking on pharmaceutical issues.
He recently returned from speaking to the National Alliance for Prescription Monitoring Programs in Lexington, Ky., and in San Diego to a group about narcotics awareness in law enforcement.
Rice considers it paying his dues, as well as respect, to his profession. If he didn't, it wouldn't leave him any room to complain.
"You (would be) allowing someone else to make decisions that directly affect you ... it's kind of like not voting," he said.
The professional passion comes from a man who didn't know what he wanted to do when he left high school.
A Riddle native, where his parents still live, Rice went to college in Montana on a football scholarship, but ended up leaving school. His departure coincided with the Vietnam draft.
He had orders several times to go to war, but was never sent overseas. After a few years in the service, Rice decided to go to pharmaceutical school.
After working around the country, Rice was employed at an Albany hospital in the early 1980s. He learned of Riddle's pharmacy owner falling ill and looking to sell.
Rice purchased it in 1981. When he returned, he said he figured he'd be in and out in five years, tops.
Now, the 54-year-old husband and father of three doesn't plan to leave.
Rice has volunteered on the city's planning commission for 12 years. That's coupled with the probably 60 hours a week he works and 15-hour days he pulls upon returning from board obligations.
That wouldn't be possible without his staff, he says.
When he purchased Riddle Pharmacy, there was only one other employee. Currently, he employs six technicians and one part-time pharmacist.
Debbie Standridge has been there for 20 years. The certified pharmacy technician was trained by Rice, as are all the pharmacy's technicians.
"There's a wealth of knowledge that goes along with it," she said. "He believes in everybody knowing that."
Standridge also respects Rice's attention to customers.
A lot of people don't hear a word their doctor says after the initial blow of a diagnosis, Standridge says. They depend on the pharmacist to get them through their medications.
"He sits down and takes the time and goes through it with them," she said.
It's the personalization that makes being a pharmacist fulfilling to Rice.
When Wal-Mart opened in Roseburg, some foresaw doom for the small-town drugstores.
What the naysayers didn't account for, Rice said, was personalized service you can only get at places like a local pharmacy.
"We know our patients personally," he said. "People call me in the middle of the night ... and I'll come down for them."
* You can reach reporter Paul Craig at 957-4211 or by e-mail at pcraig@newsreview.info.
More specifically, they've been coming from Blake Rice, owner of the Riddle Pharmacy and president of the Oregon Board of Pharmacy.
Rice has been on the board for seven years and was appointed president in June. It's made him the focus of questions about subjects like methamphetamine use and Canadian drug suppliers.
"People don't realize how many counterfeit drugs are coming in through Canadian wholesalers," he said.
The fraudulent importers are good at what they do, Rice said, and need to be regulated. It's just one of the topics Rice has to stay current on.
The truth is, he doesn't mind.
For the Oregon Board of Pharmacy, Rice travels to Portland three times a month for meetings and is called to emergency sessions, like one recently conducted on methamphetamine abuse, ordered by Gov. Ted Kulongoski.
As a result of the meeting, pseudoephedrine, the primary ingredient in meth and available in over-the-counter cold medications, will now be sold from behind the counter. Identification will be required for purchase.
Previously, stores, including the Riddle Pharmacy, employed a "meth watch" -- a voluntary program supposed to prevent excess purchase of medicine containing pseudoephedrine.
Rice said more steps need to be taken to control the meth problem.
"It's just so tragic for everybody," he said.
Rice also travels all across the state and country speaking on pharmaceutical issues.
He recently returned from speaking to the National Alliance for Prescription Monitoring Programs in Lexington, Ky., and in San Diego to a group about narcotics awareness in law enforcement.
Rice considers it paying his dues, as well as respect, to his profession. If he didn't, it wouldn't leave him any room to complain.
"You (would be) allowing someone else to make decisions that directly affect you ... it's kind of like not voting," he said.
The professional passion comes from a man who didn't know what he wanted to do when he left high school.
A Riddle native, where his parents still live, Rice went to college in Montana on a football scholarship, but ended up leaving school. His departure coincided with the Vietnam draft.
He had orders several times to go to war, but was never sent overseas. After a few years in the service, Rice decided to go to pharmaceutical school.
After working around the country, Rice was employed at an Albany hospital in the early 1980s. He learned of Riddle's pharmacy owner falling ill and looking to sell.
Rice purchased it in 1981. When he returned, he said he figured he'd be in and out in five years, tops.
Now, the 54-year-old husband and father of three doesn't plan to leave.
Rice has volunteered on the city's planning commission for 12 years. That's coupled with the probably 60 hours a week he works and 15-hour days he pulls upon returning from board obligations.
That wouldn't be possible without his staff, he says.
When he purchased Riddle Pharmacy, there was only one other employee. Currently, he employs six technicians and one part-time pharmacist.
Debbie Standridge has been there for 20 years. The certified pharmacy technician was trained by Rice, as are all the pharmacy's technicians.
"There's a wealth of knowledge that goes along with it," she said. "He believes in everybody knowing that."
Standridge also respects Rice's attention to customers.
A lot of people don't hear a word their doctor says after the initial blow of a diagnosis, Standridge says. They depend on the pharmacist to get them through their medications.
"He sits down and takes the time and goes through it with them," she said.
It's the personalization that makes being a pharmacist fulfilling to Rice.
When Wal-Mart opened in Roseburg, some foresaw doom for the small-town drugstores.
What the naysayers didn't account for, Rice said, was personalized service you can only get at places like a local pharmacy.
"We know our patients personally," he said. "People call me in the middle of the night ... and I'll come down for them."
* You can reach reporter Paul Craig at 957-4211 or by e-mail at pcraig@newsreview.info.
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