(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 today in support of a Florida law prohibiting the sale of OTC medicines containing the cough suppressant dextromethorphan (DXM) to minors.
CHPA thanks Florida Governor Rick Scott for signing the bill into law and the bill sponsors, Representative Doug Broxson (R-Gulf Breeze) and Senator Lizbeth Benacquisto (R-Fort Myers), for shepherding the bill through the legislative process. CHPA has long supported state efforts to curb teen OTC cough medicine abuse and has worked to increase parental awareness through its StopMedicineAbuse.org campaign.
“Florida is the tenth state to pass a law addressing the issue of cough medicine abuse among teens,” CHPA President and CEO Scott Melville said. “Florida will join states across the country that have acknowledged that limiting teen access to DXM is an effective way to prevent abuse. We are assured that this legislation will empower parents to prevent abuse among their children, while continuing to ensure access for the millions of families who responsibly use products containing DXM to treat common cough symptoms.”
According to the 2015 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.
