March 12, 2009
Dextromethorphan Distribution Act Introduced in Congress
A bill that would help prevent over-the-counter (OTC) cough medicine abuse was was introduced in Congress last week. H.R. 1259, the Dextromethorphan Distribution Act, was introduced by Representatives Fred Upton (R-Mich.) and Rick Larsen (D-Wash.).
The bill, which passed by the House Committee on Energy and Commerce last Wednesday, seeks to limit the sale of raw dextromethorphan, an active ingredient commonly found in its finished form in OTC cough medicines, only to legitimate entities registered with the U.S. Food and Drug Administration or state agencies. This bill comes after a number of instances of teenagers purchasing the potent raw ingredient online and abusing it with tragic consequences.
Dextromethorphan is a common cough medication ingredient that is widely abused by teens. In high doses it give you the feeling of being drunk with hallunications effects. If youth do not have access to alcohol, they will use the cough medications in our medicine cabinets to get a similar high.
DXM causes permanent scarring of the brain, liver damage, uncontrolled bleeding and coma.
Since the other active ingredients in these often "multi-symptom" medications also can cause serious problems but do not contribute to the high, people separate the DXM from the other ingredients. This clearly demonstrates intention of abuse, therefore it has been banned by the state of Illinois.
This is the third time the Dextromethorphan Distribution Act has been introduced in the U.S. Congress. It passed the U.S. House of Representatives twice, but failed to move forward before the close of both the 109th and 110th Congresses. CADCA has supported the bill each time and will continue to monitor its progress.
Dextromethorphan Distribution Act Introduced in Congress
A bill that would help prevent over-the-counter (OTC) cough medicine abuse was was introduced in Congress last week. H.R. 1259, the Dextromethorphan Distribution Act, was introduced by Representatives Fred Upton (R-Mich.) and Rick Larsen (D-Wash.).
The bill, which passed by the House Committee on Energy and Commerce last Wednesday, seeks to limit the sale of raw dextromethorphan, an active ingredient commonly found in its finished form in OTC cough medicines, only to legitimate entities registered with the U.S. Food and Drug Administration or state agencies. This bill comes after a number of instances of teenagers purchasing the potent raw ingredient online and abusing it with tragic consequences.
Dextromethorphan is a common cough medication ingredient that is widely abused by teens. In high doses it give you the feeling of being drunk with hallunications effects. If youth do not have access to alcohol, they will use the cough medications in our medicine cabinets to get a similar high.
DXM causes permanent scarring of the brain, liver damage, uncontrolled bleeding and coma.
Since the other active ingredients in these often "multi-symptom" medications also can cause serious problems but do not contribute to the high, people separate the DXM from the other ingredients. This clearly demonstrates intention of abuse, therefore it has been banned by the state of Illinois.
This is the third time the Dextromethorphan Distribution Act has been introduced in the U.S. Congress. It passed the U.S. House of Representatives twice, but failed to move forward before the close of both the 109th and 110th Congresses. CADCA has supported the bill each time and will continue to monitor its progress.
