Dextromethorphan (DXM) is a safe and effective ingredient found in well over 100 over-the-counter (OTC) cough products. First approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration in the 1950s, it is an effective, non-narcotic cough suppressant that works by raising the coughing threshold in the brain; it has no pain relieving properties and is not addictive. While dextromethorphan is used safely by millions of Americans each year to relieve cough symptoms due to the common cold or flu, parents should be aware that some teenagers and young adults intentionally abuse large amounts of medicines containing DXM to get high.
StopMedicineAbuse.org
The leading makers of OTC cough medicines have been engaged in educational efforts to curb abuse for a number of years. In 2009, these efforts were combined into one comprehensive web site: StopMedicineAbuse.org. This web site provides access to all the industry’s initiatives and interactive programs to engage parents in the fight against teen cough medicine abuse.
These industry-led programs appear to be making headway in the fight. Data released in December 2008 by the National Institutes of Health’s Monitoring the Future survey show an overall decline in annual teen cough medicine abuse rates. Lifetime abuse rates among teens in another national survey—the Partnership for a Drug-Free America’s teen Partnership Attitude Tracking Survey, released in 2009—show no increase over the previous survey: roughly 10 percent, or 2.4 million teens, report having abused an OTC cough medicine to get high.
Partnership for a Drug-Free America
The nonprescription medicine industry takes very seriously the intentional abuse of its products and sought out the experts at the Partnership for a Drug-Free America (the Partnership) for assistance in combating the problem. Together, CHPA and Partnership began an ongoing initiative in 2003 to ensure that adults with influence and oversight over young people are aware that teens may be considering abusing DXM. Aside from efforts to educate key audiences regarding the potential for abuse of medicines containing DXM, CHPA, in conjunction with the Partnership, launched the Rx and OTC Medicine Abuse Education Campaign in May 2006. This multi-year, communications campaign was designed to help parents and families understand and prevent the abuse of medicines, including cough medicines containing DXM, by teenagers and young adults.
Elements of the campaign include:
Community Anti-Drug Coalition of America
CHPA also has joined forces with the Community Anti-Drug Coalitions of America (CADCA) to develop a new educational community toolkit to help coalition and prevention leaders mobilize their communities and educate key stakeholders about the dangers of OTC cough medicine abuse. CADCA represents over 5,000 community coalitions nationwide. This toolkit was first unveiled at CADCA's National Leadership Forum in February 2007.
Additionally, CHPA and CADCA have supported the designation of "National Medicine Abuse Awareness Month" for the last two years. This initiative highlights one month a year to provide an opportunity for parents to educate themselves and to talk to their teens about the dangers associated with medicine abuse. Dovetailing this effort, CHPA and CADCA host town hall meetings nationwide with local CADCA affiliates. States interested in hosting their own town hall meeting have access to all materials in the Dose of Prevention toolkit.
In September 2008, CADCA, CHPA, and the Pharmaceutical Research and Manufacturers of America (PhRMA) introduced a new tool in the fight against medicine abuse. Provided to 250 Newspaper in Education programs nationwide as well as online, this 16-page newspaper supplement, Stay Smart, Don’t Start: The Truth About Drugs and Alcohol, educates young people and parents about the dangers of abusing over-the-counter cough medicine and prescription drugs. The supplement is available for download online.
Five Moms: Stopping Cough Medicine Abuse
In May 2007, CHPA launched "Five Moms: Stopping Cough Medicine Abuse," an online grassroots campaign to help parents fight teen medicine abuse. Since its launch, Five Moms has reached over 24 million people across the country. At the heart of the Five Moms Campaign are five exceptional women, from different walks of life and from all across the country, who are all dedicated to spreading the word about the dangers of cough medicine abuse.
This campaign is designed to use the very same tactics medicine abusers are using: spreading and promoting information on the Internet. The Five Moms’ goal is to get the word out to as many parents as possible that cough medicine abuse is happening in their homes, and that the Internet is a driving force.
In 2009, the Five Moms Campaign became part of CHPA’s overall Stop Medicine Abuse initiatives. Through the web site, parents can sign up for the electronic newsletter, view the "viral video," or use the “tell-a-friend” tool to spread the word about this teen substance abuse behavior.
D.A.R.E. America
D.A.R.E. America and CHPA have teamed up with the Pharmaceutical Research and Manufacturers of America (PhRMA) and Abbott Laboratories to launch specialized lessons for fifth-, seventh-, and ninth-graders that counter the abuse of prescription and over-the-counter drugs. These lessons are designed to be taught after students complete their regular D.A.R.E. curriculum.
In addition to CHPA, PhRMA, and Abbott, D.A.R.E. American's Rx and OTC Drug Abuse Curriculum was developed with the support and expertise of law enforcement officers, the U.S. Office of National Drug Control Policy, the National Council on Patient Information and Education, the U.S. Drug Enforcement Agency, the Food and Drug Administration, the National Institute of Drug Abuse, Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration's Center for Substance Abuse Treatment (SAMHSA/CSAP), and the Partnership for a Drug-Free America. The program was expanded so that members of the National Association of School Nurses and the American Association of School Administrators can teach the lessons to school children, as well as D.A.R.E. officers.
For more information about the innovative program, visit D.A.R.E. America online.
Others
Additionally, CHPA has been reaching out to a variety of organizations, including parent groups, education associations, health professional societies, law enforcement, the retail community, pharmacists, and others to raise awareness on the issue.
Federal Legislative Initiatives
CHPA is working on a number of legislative initiatives on the federal level to complement the association’s educational efforts to curb teen cough medicine abuse.
CHPA supports legislative and retail efforts to implement sales restrictions prohibiting the sale of OTC cough medicine to minors. In the 110th Congress, the Dextromethorphan Abuse Reduction Act (S. 2274) was introduced to accomplish this goal. CHPA, and partners such as the Community Anti-Drug Coalitions of America, the Food Marketing Institute, the National Association of Chain Drug Stores, and the Partnership for a Drug-Free America, are working with members of Congress to see similar legislation introduced and passed in 2009.
CHPA also supports legislation ensuring that only legitimate entities registered with FDA or relevant state agencies can purchase raw, unfinished dextromethorphan, the most dangerous form of the ingredient when abused. Currently, there are no national sales or purchase restrictions for dextromethorphan in this form. The Dextromethorphan Distribution Act (H.R. 1259) was passed by the U.S. House of Representatives on March 31, 2009. Similar legislation passed in the House in the 110th Congress. CHPA is working to see that a companion bill is introduced and passed in the Senate as well.
Additionally, CHPA supports the designation of one month every year as National Medicine Abuse Awareness Month. This designation provides a further incentive to communities to engage in awareness-building events and draws attention to this teen substance abuse behavior.