Results from a national survey of illicit drug use by students provide a platform to address the problem of young people abusing over-the-counter cough and cold medicines containing dextromethorphan, the Consumer Healthcare Products Association said Dec. 21.

The Monitoring the Future survey, designed and conducted by the University of Michigan and sponsored by the National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA), for the first time included questions regarding cough/cold medicines.

According to results of the 32nd annual survey, 4.2 percent of 8th-grade students, 5.3 percent of 10th-graders and 6.9 percent of 12th-graders reported taking cough or cold medicines containing dextromethorphan recreationally during the past year.

"Because these drugs are available over the counter, students may not fully recognize the dangers of using them," a University of Michigan release stated.

Lloyd Johnston, Ph.D., the study's principal investigator and a professor at the university, says data about DXM abuse could get the public's attention. "If the dangers of using these drugs receive more attention in the media, I would expect their popularity to fade somewhat," Johnston said.

Results of another recent study also highlighted the problem of DXM abuse. Authors of the study published in the December issue of Archives of Pediatrics & Adolescent Medicine proposed curbing DXM abuse by requiring behind-the-counter sales for OTC drugs made with DXM (¹ Also see "Dextromethorphan Abuse Study Raises Questions On Prevention Strategies" - Pink Sheet, 11 December, 2006., p. 10).

CHPA does not advocate putting cough/cold medicines behind pharmacy counters, but it supports voluntary 18-and-older age restrictions on OTC sales of DXM-containing products, said association President Linda Suydam.

"Many of the large retailers like Target and Wal-Mart and Walgreens and CVS are all asking for ID when you come in to buy dextromethorphan, and if you're under 18 they will not sell it to you. We believe very strongly that this voluntary program will be very helpful," Suydam told "The Tan Sheet."

However, she stressed that setting age limits should complement an education campaign to raise awareness of the dangers of DXM abuse.

"We certainly believe that age restrictions are one method [of deterring DXM abuse], as long as they're part of an overall educational campaign. You can't do one without the other," Suydam said.

CHPA has sponsored an ad campaign with print, broadcast and Web media for the Partnership for a Drug-Free America to bring attention to DXM abuse. It also is working with the Community Anti-Drug Coalitions of America.

At CADCA's annual meeting in February, CHPA will launch its "first toolkit entirely focused on addressing and preventing cough medicine abuse, designed especially for key influencers, coalitions and other interested parties," the group said.

CHPA also has supported the Dextromethorphan Distribution Act of 2006 (HR 5280) to prevent online sales of bulk DXM to retailers not registered with FDA.

The bill passed the House by unanimous consent, but the Senate did not address it before Congress adjourned Dec. 9 (² Also see "Dextromethorphan Bulk-Sale Limit Clears House, But Stalls In Senate" - Pink Sheet, 11 December, 2006., p. 11).

CHPA says it will lobby for the legislation to be reintroduced when the 110th Congress convenes in January (³ 'The Tan Sheet' Dec. 18, 2006, In Brief).

Overall results of the latest Monitoring the Future survey are encouraging, according to NIDA. U.S. adolescent alcohol and drug consumption continued its decade-long decline, with slight decreases from 2005.

The rates of students' use of illicit drugs in the prior 12 months "are now down from recent peak levels in the mid-1990s by about one-third in 8th grade, one-quarter in 10th grade and one-eighth in 12th grade," the researchers said. The rates are 15 percent for 8th-graders, 29 percent for 10th- and 37 percent for 12th-graders.

Although DXM abuse was included for the first time, the survey previously referred to cough/cold medicines. In 1999, Robitussin maker Whitehall-Robins told FDA that data from both the Drug Abuse Warning Network and Monitoring surveys indicate DXM abuse is "relatively insignificant when compared to other forms of drug abuse" (⁴ Also see "Dextromethorphan Abuse "Not Gaining Popularity," Whitehall-Robins Says" - Pink Sheet, 8 February, 1999., p. 9).

- Jessica Lake

National Survey Results Add To DXM Abuse Concerns; CHPA Touts Education

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