CHPA Statement Regarding ‘Monitoring the Future’ Findings on Cough Medicine Abuse

To: FAMILY EDITORS

Contact: Mimi Pappas of Consumer Healthcare Products Association, work: +1-202-429-9260, cell: +1-202-262-3058

WASHINGTON, Dec. 21 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ — Following is a statement byLinda A. Suydam, D.P.A., president of the Consumer Healthcare ProductsAssociation (CHPA), regarding today’s release of the National Institute onDrug Abuse (NIDA)’s Monitoring the Future survey, which includes data on thenon-medical use of medicines containing dextromethorphan among 8th, 10th, and12th grade students:

“The Monitoring the Future survey provides us all with valuable insightsinto the prevalence of the non-medical use of dextromethorphan. We applaudthe survey authors for shedding light on this trend surrounding the abuse ofmedicine. Combined with data gathered by the Partnership for a Drug-FreeAmerica for the last two years, this information underscores the critical needfor education and awareness about the troubling trend of teenagers taking vastamounts of otherwise safe medicines — both prescription and nonprescription — to get high. Substance abuse experts tell us and we agree that education isthe most effective way to keep kids from abusing all types of substances,including medicines. In fact, studies have shown that teens who talk aboutdrugs with their parents are half as likely to use drugs.

“Consumers have relied on cough medicines that contain dextromethorphanfor over 50 years, and, as the makers of over-the- counter cough medicines, wetake our responsibility toward public health seriously. We believe stronglyin the power of education and are committed to raising awareness aboutmedicine abuse and giving parents and other key influencers in teens’ livesthe tools they need to stop this preventable problem.

“With this in mind, CHPA is taking the lead in educating parents aboutthis preventable abuse problem and empowering them to take action. With thePartnership for a Drug-Free America, we have created a host of English- andSpanish-language educational resources for parents and community leaders,including public service announcements, brochures, and web sites. We also areworking with the Community Anti-Drug Coalitions of America to develop thefirst toolkit entirely focused on addressing and preventing cough medicineabuse, designed especially for key influencers, coalitions, and otherinterested parties.

"To help prevent or stop teen medicine abuse, parents should: 1. Educate themselves about the problem of teens looking to otherwise safe and beneficial products, like medications, as a means to a high and know the warning signs. 2. Talk to their teens about all types of drug abuse, including cough medicine abuse. 3. Safeguard their medicine cabinets, and know what products they have and how many. 4. Monitor their teen's Internet use. 5. Seek professional help if they think their child has a substance abuse problem.

“The Internet plays a significant role in providing teens with informationabout how to abuse medicine. The Internet is full of predators who activelyencourage dextromethorphan abuse and even provide detailed instructions.These strangers are putting our children at risk of potentially deadly harm,and we must expose them for the dangerous people they are. CHPA is reachingout to online communities, urging them to police their own content and removethis type of dangerous information. At the same time, parents must bevigilant about knowing what their teens may be accessing on the Internet.Teens are using the Internet to purchase the raw, unfinished ingredient usedby manufacturers to make cough medicine and to get detailed instructions onhow to abuse it.

“As the manufacturers of over-the-counter medicines, we are workingdiligently to raise awareness of this problem and provide resources forparents, healthcare providers, retailers, teens, and community leaders. CHPAalso supports many retailers’ efforts to prevent the sale of dextromethorphan-containing medicines to those under the age of 18.”

Note: All of CHPA’s initiatives to stop cough medicine abuse by teens aresummarized online atwww.chpa-info.org/ChpaPortal/PressRoom/ Kit/MedAbuseEdCampaignPressKit.htm.

CHPA is the 125-year-old trade association representing U.S. manufacturersand distributors of over-the-counter medicines and nutritional supplementproducts.

http://www.chpa-info.org

SOURCE Consumer Healthcare Products Association

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