Cough Medicine Abuse on the Rise

Abuse of over-the-counter cough medicines containing dextromethorphan (DXM) is increasing among young people ages 12 to 20, according to a study of emergency room visits. In 2004, DXM was a factor in 12,584 visits to hospital emergency departments and 5,581 of those visits involved nonmedical use of the drug.

According to the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration report, almost half of the reported 5,581 nonmedical-related visits involved patients from age 12 to age 20. Nonmedical use includes taking more than the perscribed dose to get high.

Nonmedical use figures did not include accidental ingestion, suicide attempts and, of course, medical use.

"This report shows that there can be severe, even life-threatening, consequences associated with the misuse of some over-the-counter cough medicines," said Assistant Surgeon General Eric Broderick, in a SAMSHA advisory. "When it comes to our children, parents play a key role in ensuring the responsible use of this widely available medication."

Twice the Rate of Adults

The study also found:

• E.R. visits by those ages 12-20 were more than twice the rate of other age groups, 7.1 visits per 100,000 compared with 2.6 visits per 100,000.

• Alcohol was also a factor in 36 percent of nonmedical visits by patients ages 18 to 20.

• Alcohol was a factor in 13 percent of nonmedical visits by those 12 to 17 years of age.

• Only 17 percent of visits to the emergency rooms for medical use of DXM were patients aged 12-20.

The Food and Drug Administration has issued a warning against the abuse of dextromethorphan after five reported deaths of teenagers in 2005.

The full SAMSHA report is available on the web.

More Information:

• SAMSHA Advisory
  
• A Prescription for Teen Danger
  
• Stimulants Photo Gallery

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