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DrugScreening.org


 
N.J. Lawmakers Seek Ban on Cough Medicine to Minors
September 4, 2008

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News Summary

The sale of medications containing dextromethorphan (DXM) -- commonly found in cough and cold medicines -- to individuals under age 18 would be prohibited in New Jersey if lawmakers approve a measure sponsored by a pair of state senators, the Newark Star-Ledger reported Sept. 4.

Sens. Barbara Buono and Tom Kean Jr. are backing the proposed ban, saying that misuse of drugs containing DXM is a growing problem. Similar legislation has been proposed in other states and in Congress. "The abuse of dextromethorphan is a growing problem in New Jersey and across the United States," Buono said. "Because the drugs are so readily available to kids, abuse can be easily hidden from even the most involved parent."

Popular over-the-counter drugs containing DXM include Robitussin, NyQuil, Contac, Coricidin, Delsym, Dimetapp, Mucinex, PediaCare, Sudafed, Theraflu and Triaminic. Misuse of such drugs can cause a variety of health problems, such as hallucinations, high blood pressure, blurred vision, loss of motor control, and rapid heartbeat.

In New Jersey, 205 teens were treated for problems related to DXM use last year, according to state officials.

Federal legislation to ban sales of products containing DXM to those under age 18 is sponsored by Sen. Joe Biden (D-Del.). Similar bills are pending in Maryland, Georgia, Oklahoma, and Rhode Island.

COMMENTS ON THIS ARTICLE:

Posted by Alyssa on 10 Oct 08 12:16 PM EDT
When I was in school I remember kids as young as 11 drinking bottles and bottles of this to get high...I think its much more of a problem than parents realize. It isn't so much that the DXM is dangerous, but many of these medications also contain acetaminophen, and overdosing on that can cause severe kidney damage and death.

Posted by snapdragan4@yahoo,com on 10 Sep 08 01:35 AM EDT
So many medications have already been banned from the market due to young people choosing to make poor choices. However, the education for the choices made for how these OTC medications are used start at home with the partnts and other adults the chidlren have in their lives daily. Adults need to set the standers and live by them and pass it down to the next generation instead to letting the government pass laws and take our rights slowely away. If a 16 year old is responsible enough to work and drive then picking up medication when they are ill should not be the issue. I am not sure I would want am eight or nine year old to buy their own medication by 16 with guidance and direction this should be a mute point.

Posted by chrisa@stonehill on 09 Sep 08 08:43 PM EDT
I agree that we should not take cough medications off the shelf. I simply think that the selling of cough medicine to minors should be prohibited. This way, those over the age of 18 will not be inconvenienced. This age limitation, coupled with education on the abuse of DXM by minors, will theoretically allow parents to keep a watchful eye on their children. A knowledgeable parent can see if cough medicine is missing from their cabinet at home. I don't think cough medicine should be banned, simply its sale to minors. This way its medicinal use can still be maximized and its potential for abuse can be minimized.

Posted by Shannon on 09 Sep 08 12:41 PM EDT
Why do we continue to punish those that do not abuse substances? If my 16 yr old was ill and needed to get cold medicine from the pharmacy - I would expect them to be able to drive themselves there and buy the medicine. As a teenager, I did not rely on my parents to buy cold medicine for me. I went to the pharmacy, purchased the OTC medicine, then went home, took the medicine, and went to bed. Why should my sick child have to wait until I get home from work to be able to get some relief from thier symptoms? Why should the gov't be able to inconvience me and my child's ability to feel better? Maybe the emphasis should be more on education about OTC abuse. Banning the sale of OTC medication to anyone under the age of 18 is rediculous. Final thought- How many households in America have cough/cold medicines in them? Even if you ban the sales, they will still be in the home. Are parents going to be required to lock up the cold medicines next? Gov't is too focused on reaction and not enough on prevention. When are we going to let parents be parents again? If the gov't wants to tell us every step to raising our children are they also going to stay paying to raise them??

Posted by Jason Blanchette on 05 Sep 08 09:56 AM EDT
The kids I saw come into a treatment facility who had done a lot of DXM had the shortest attention spans I've ever seen anyone have; not hyper, just couldn't focus.

Posted by calmeida@stonehill on 04 Sep 08 10:49 AM EDT
It's about time that states started banning the selling of cough medicines to minors. What this article fails to mention is that according to the December 2006 issue of the Archives of Pediatrics and Adolescent Medicine, it is mostly 12 and 13 year olds who are abusing DXM. When DXM is mixed with a heroin-based drug, it creates a very lethal, cheap combination called "cheese" that has a very high potential to kill our young children. DXM alone causes its users, mostly young children, to hallucinate and go to the hospital. However, when they begin looking for a bigger high and mixing DXM with other drugs, going to the hospital will be the least of their problems.

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