(WASHINGTON, D.C.) — The Consumer Healthcare Products Association (CHPA), the trade association representing the leading manufacturers and marketers of over-the-counter (OTC) medicines, released the following statement in support of yesterday’s enactment of a New Jersey law prohibiting the sale of OTC medicines containing the cough suppressant dextromethorphan (DXM) to minors.
CHPA expresses its gratitude to New Jersey Governor Chris Christie, Senator Peter Barnes, Assembly members Paul Moriarty, Patrick Diegnan, Benjie Wimberly, Valerie Vainieri Huttle, Reed Gusciora and Shavonda Sumter, Mary Pat Angelini and Nancy F. Muñoz for shepherding the bill through the legislature. CHPA has long supported state efforts to curb teen OTC cough medicine abuse through its StopMedicineAbuse.org campaign.
“New Jersey is the ninth state to implement a law addressing the issue of cough medicine abuse among teens, and the enactment of similar legislation in states across the country has indicated that limiting teen access to DXM is a proven way to prevent abuse.” CHPA President and CEO Scott Melville said. “We are confident that this law will further allow parents to prevent abuse among their children, while continuing to ensure access for the millions of adults and families who responsibly use products containing DXM to treat common cough symptoms,”
According to the 2014 National Institute on Drug Abuse’s (NIDA’s) annual Monitoring the Future survey, one in 30 teens abuses OTC cough medicine containing DXM to get high. To learn more about the side effects of DXM abuse and obtain access to toolkits, brochures, and other educational materials for parents and community leaders visit StopMedicineAbuse.org.
