Friday, July 20th, 2012

Preventing Teen Cough Medicine Abuse Proposed Legislation

Senators Bob Casey (PA) and Lisa Murkowski (AK) have introduced the Preventing Abuse of Cough Treatments (PACT) Act of 2012.

The proposed legislation is designed to prevent the abuse of cough medicine by teenagers. The bill proposes restricting the sale of products containing the cough suppressant dextromethorphan (DXM) to minors, while ensuring availability of these important over-the-counter medicines to adults older than 18. Ultimately, the bill will give parents an additional tool to prevent abuse, while ensuring access for the millions of adults and families who responsibly use products containing DXM to relieve cough symptoms. Parents play an important role in preventing cough medicine abuse. Teens who learn about the dangers of drug and medicine abuse from their parents are 50% less likely to abuse drugs and medicines. So parents, DARE officers, teen mentors and community leaders: be sure to include cough medicine abuse and prescription drug abuse in your conversations with teens.

For the full text please go to: "http://dare.org/documents/D.A.R.E.Bulletin-PreventingTeenCoughMedicineAbuse.doc"