MADISON, Wis. -- A crackdown on methamphetamine may end up restricting people's access to certain over-the-counter medications.

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Over The Counter Crack Down

One component of methamphetamine is pseudoephedrine, a common ingredient in cold medications. Because of that, lawmakers in 20 states are considering tighter restrictions at some stores.

Since 1998, federal restrictions have been placed on products containing pseudoephedrine.

Target is among many stores that limit their sales.

"We have boxes that explain why we limit the sale of (pseudoephedrine)," said Bill Chappell, executive team leader at Target in Madison.

Shoppers are only allowed to buy two boxes or 6 grams of ephedrine.

But tighter restrictions on products like Tylenol, NyQuil and Claritin-D may have people pulling out identification and providing an address at the checkout counter.

"We want to make sure that retailers don't have to do anything that would create a hardship for them or their customers," said Michelle Kussow, of the Wisconsin Grocers Association.

The U.S. Department of Health said the number of new meth users has increased from 164,000 in 1990 to 344,000 in 2000.

Limiting the sale of common cold products may help fight meth problems, but for the average shopper who buys one or two boxes it may only add time.

"I don't know about you, but when I get a cold, I'll get what I need to get to get to work," Chappell said.

Some states, such as Oklahoma, already have laws like this in place, and since it took effect law enforcement has reported an 80 percent drop in meth raids.