Statement from the Consumer Healthcare Products Association (CHPA) on Annual Monitoring the Future Survey on Drug Abuse

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Consumer Healthcare Products Association

Dec 14, 2011, 02:18 ET

WASHINGTON, Dec. 14, 2011 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Consumer Healthcare Products Association (CHPA) President and CEO Scott Melville issued the following statement regarding today's release of the 2011 National Institute on Drug Abuse's (NIDA's) Monitoring the Future survey, which found that cough medicine abuse among twelfth graders has decreased by 1.2 percent in the last year. Abuse among eighth and tenth graders remained stable, at 2.7 and 5.5 percent respectively.

"The results of this year's National Institute on Drug Abuse's (NIDA's) Monitoring the Future survey show that abuse of cough medicine has leveled off and even decreased among twelfth graders. However, teens turning to the medicine cabinet to get high remains a persistent and concerning behavior, and the leading makers of over-the-counter medicines will continue our many efforts to stop this behavior.

"Research shows that kids whose parents talk to them about the about the risks of drugs are 50 percent less likely to use. Partnering with drug abuse prevention experts, we have raised awareness among millions of families in communities across the country about the dangers of over-the-counter cough medicine abuse. Through retail initiatives, community events, and media, we will continue to provide information, guidance and support to give parents the tools they need to prevent their teens from abusing cough medicine.

"As we work to empower parents to talk to their teens and to monitor the medicines in their homes, we also are also pushing the federal government to give parents additional support. We continue to call upon Congress to pass a federal bill that would ban individuals under the age of 18 from purchasing cough medicine containing dextromethorphan (DXM). DXM is the most widely used cough suppressant and has been relied upon by American families for more than 50 years, but we recognize some report abusing large quantities. We believe parents should be in control of the medicines that enter their homes, and that teens should not be buying these medicines."

For more information on CHPA's campaign to stop cough medicine abuse, go to StopMedicineAbuse.org.

CHPA is the 130-year-old-trade association representing U.S. manufacturers and distributors of over-the-counter medicines and dietary supplements.

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SOURCE Consumer Healthcare Products Association