Dextromethorphan (DXM) is a safe and effective ingredient found in over 100 over-the-counter (OTC) cough and cold 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 millions of Americans use dextromethorphan safely 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 website: StopMedicineAbuse.org. This website provides access to all the industry’s initiatives and interactive programs to engage parents and community leaders in the fight against teen cough medicine abuse. StopMedicineAbuse.org also has an active presence on Facebook, Twitter, and YouTube to spread the word about the abuse of cough medicines.
These industry-led programs appear to be making headway in the fight. Data released in December 2011 by the National Institutes of Health’s Monitoring the Future survey show that nearly five percent of teens admit to abusing cough medicines to get high.
The Partnership at Drugfree.org
The nonprescription medicine industry takes very seriously the intentional abuse of its products and sought out the experts at The Partnership at Drugfree.org (the Partnership) for assistance in combating the problem. Together, CHPA and the 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 a multi-year, communications campaign 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 Coalitions of America
CHPA also has joined forces with the Community Anti-Drug Coalitions of America (CADCA) to develop an 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 and is downloadable at StopMedicineAbuse.org. Additionally, CHPA and CADCA have supported the designation of "National Medicine Abuse Awareness Month" for the last three 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 toolkit.
In September 2008, CADCA, CHPA, and the Pharmaceutical Research and Manufacturers of America (PhRMA) introduced an additional 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. In addition, the partners published a teen-directed brochure, The Real Truth About Rx and OTC Medicine Abuse.
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 35 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 website, parents can sign up for the electronic newsletter, view the "viral video," or use the “tell-a-friend” tool (in English and Spanish) to spread the word about this teen substance abuse behavior.
D.A.R.E. America
In 2007, D.A.R.E. America and CHPA 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.
National Association of School Nurses
In 2010, CHPA teamed up with the National Association of School Nurses to launch Home to Homeroom, an educational program that teams parents with the medical expert in their teen’s school—the school nurse—to help prevent and address teen medicine abuse.
Home to Homeroom provides parents with advice and tools on how to integrate medicine abuse into regular drug talks with teens, how to keep the dialogue going, and how to find resources to support at-risk teens. Found at StopMedicineAbuse.org, the campaign features a toolkit for school nurses, downloadable materials, and frequent digests posted on the web site.
WebMD
In 2009, CHPA launched a collaborative educational destination with WebMD to bring information and tips on spotting cough medicine abuse.
Others
Additionally, CHPA reaches 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.
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