September 4, 2008
New Jersey Proposes Carding Shoppers Buying OTC Cold Meds
A sharp increase in overdoses tied to dextromethorphan (DXM), an active ingredient found in more than 100 over-the-counter cold medicines, has led two New Jersey lawmakers to propose a bill that would require cashiers to verify a shopper’s age before selling the product in retail stores.
Democratic state Sen. Barbara Buono and Republican state Sen. Tom Kean Jr. have introduced the legislation. Sen. Buono told The Associated Press, “DXM abuse can have lasting and potentially fatal consequences for teenagers who misuse this legal, inexpensive and easily accessible substance in order to achieve a high.”
The practice of carding consumers looking to buy medicines containing DXM, said Sen Buono, puts “common sense limitations” on the sale of the products.
According to New Jersey’s Poison Information and Education System, teenagers treated for DXM exposure has grown from 70 in 2000 to 205 last year. There have been 107 cases in the state so far in 2008.
According to the Partnership for a Drug-Free America, 10 percent of teenagers have intentionally abused cough/cold medicines to get high.
A number of retail chains, including some already operating in New Jersey such as Costco, CVS, Rite Aid, Stop & Shop, Target, Walgreens and Walmart, already card consumers under 18 who attempt to purchase products containing DXM.
Discussion Questions: Is DXM abuse becoming prevalent enough that legislation is required to try and prevent teens from obtaining products containing the ingredient? Is this something that can be handled just as well or better on a voluntary basis by retailers?
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This is something we need to nip in the bud, through whatever measures work. I understand that the use of DXM products such as Robitussin in great quantities (4X or 5X the suggested dosage) is like a gateway drug that can lead kids on to meth, cocaine and harder drugs. Signs and volunteer efforts carding buyers are OK to start. Retailers need to know the seriousness of this problem and should not fight government regulation. If a customer legitimately needs the cough syrup, they’ll understand why it’s kept behind the pharmacy counter.
It will be better if retailers can institute their own actions on a voluntary basis to help control under-age purchases of OTC drugs. Communities are not all alike and do not respond exactly the same way, and the same is true for retail units and operations. Similarly, the one-size fits all government approach to controlling pseudoephedrine sales has put a huge burden on many retail stores and is causing unnecessary inconvenience to pharmacy customers who are not necessarily even purchasing products that would directly apply.
I agree that it would be better if the retailers form their own controls but unfortunately, some won’t. Therefore, legislation is required. This is a huge problem which is being introduced at a very young age. This drug is so addictive that many have not been able to shake it. We need much more than legislation for retailers. We need to educate the very young on the dangers of this drug and the health issues and destruction it causes. In many schools, 8 year olds are being approached…scary! They are getting hooked before they know about the dangers. If the stores don’t sell to minors, there are many other ways for the minors to get the drug.
I wasn’t aware that there are age limits on these products, so I’m not sure how this works. But certainly more legislation is needed–isn’t it always? I mean overreaction to (relatively minor) problems would never occur…never! 🙂
I heartily support stricter regulation of dextromethorphan in all states. On April 2, 2008, my 20 year old nephew committed suicide while abusing the drug. Massive amounts of it were in his bloodstream and we were told that in massive overdoses, it causes vividly horrendous hallucinations that more and more are resulting in suicides and/or murders. If regulation can prevent even one family from living through this nightmare, it is certainly worth it.
Carding folks who buy DXM won’t stop the abuse. But legislators will be able to say they did something about the problem. Has raising the drinking age to 21 and demanding photo ID stopped teenage alcohol abuse? Looks to me like raising the drinking age just glamorized it. Teenagers love a challenge.
Kmart has been doing this for years. And every time I am asked, I happily comply.
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This is something we need to nip in the bud, through whatever measures work. I understand that the use of DXM products such as Robitussin in great quantities (4X or 5X the suggested dosage) is like a gateway drug that can lead kids on to meth, cocaine and harder drugs. Signs and volunteer efforts carding buyers are OK to start. Retailers need to know the seriousness of this problem and should not fight government regulation. If a customer legitimately needs the cough syrup, they’ll understand why it’s kept behind the pharmacy counter.
It will be better if retailers can institute their own actions on a voluntary basis to help control under-age purchases of OTC drugs. Communities are not all alike and do not respond exactly the same way, and the same is true for retail units and operations. Similarly, the one-size fits all government approach to controlling pseudoephedrine sales has put a huge burden on many retail stores and is causing unnecessary inconvenience to pharmacy customers who are not necessarily even purchasing products that would directly apply.
I agree that it would be better if the retailers form their own controls but unfortunately, some won’t. Therefore, legislation is required. This is a huge problem which is being introduced at a very young age. This drug is so addictive that many have not been able to shake it. We need much more than legislation for retailers. We need to educate the very young on the dangers of this drug and the health issues and destruction it causes. In many schools, 8 year olds are being approached…scary! They are getting hooked before they know about the dangers. If the stores don’t sell to minors, there are many other ways for the minors to get the drug.
I wasn’t aware that there are age limits on these products, so I’m not sure how this works. But certainly more legislation is needed–isn’t it always? I mean overreaction to (relatively minor) problems would never occur…never! 🙂
I heartily support stricter regulation of dextromethorphan in all states. On April 2, 2008, my 20 year old nephew committed suicide while abusing the drug. Massive amounts of it were in his bloodstream and we were told that in massive overdoses, it causes vividly horrendous hallucinations that more and more are resulting in suicides and/or murders. If regulation can prevent even one family from living through this nightmare, it is certainly worth it.
Carding folks who buy DXM won’t stop the abuse. But legislators will be able to say they did something about the problem. Has raising the drinking age to 21 and demanding photo ID stopped teenage alcohol abuse? Looks to me like raising the drinking age just glamorized it. Teenagers love a challenge.
Kmart has been doing this for years. And every time I am asked, I happily comply.