RESOURCES TO TAKE ACTION

Parents

You have the power to prevent and reduce teen over-the-counter (OTC) cough medicine abuse by talking to your teen, monitoring your medicines, and sharing the resources below with other parents. If you suspect your child is misusing or abusing medicine, you can connect with a Helpline Specialist from the Partnership for Drug-Free Kids by phone at 855-DRUGFREE (855-378-4373), by text, email, or Facebook Messenger.

Community Advocates

Communities can combat over-the-counter (OTC) cough medicine abuse by coming together. If you’re a member of a local anti-drug coalition, engaged in other community advocacy activities, or are looking to get involved, you can help spread awareness of this issue and how to prevent it with the resources below.

Quick Links

Educators

As an educator, you are likely familiar with a range of substance abuse problems among the students in your school, but is abuse of over-the-counter (OTC) cough medicine on your radar? Knowing what signs to look for and the slang terms teens use when they talk about getting high from cough medicine can help you prevent abuse in your school.

Quick Link

Healthcare Providers

Healthcare providers are uniquely positioned to educate parents about teen over-the-counter (OTC) cough medicine abuse. Providing a cautionary mention during patients’ appointments or offering them the materials below are easy ways to inform patients about this issue. Additionally, providers should encourage parents to talk to their teens and monitor their household medicine supply.

Quick Link

Law Enforcement

As the men and women on the frontlines, you can help stop teen over-the-counter (OTC) cough medicine abuse by being on the lookout for teens who have cough medicine bottles, pills, or tablets in their possession or vehicles. Additionally, you can partner with your local community anti-drug coalitions to implement prevention and intervention measures.

Quick Links

Pharmacists & Retailers

Those of you who serve neighborhoods across the country in local pharmacies and other retail outlets interact with community members every day, making you well-positioned to educate them about the issue of teen over-the-counter (OTC) cough medicine abuse. You can help inform the employees at your store location(s) how to prevent medicine abuse by ordering our free educational materials below.

School Nurses

As a school nurse, you know the range of issues parents deal with concerning the health and welfare of their teens. The National Association of School Nurses (NASN) has partnered with us to provide school nurses with tools you can use when spreading awareness in your schools. Many of these tools can be used when speaking at assemblies, Parent Teacher Association meetings, or one-on-one meetings with parents or students.

Quick Link

Parents

Parents

You have the power to prevent and reduce teen over-the-counter (OTC) cough medicine abuse by talking to your teen, monitoring your medicines, and sharing the resources below with other parents. If you suspect your child is misusing or abusing medicine, you can connect with a Helpline Specialist from the Partnership for Drug-Free Kids by phone at 855-DRUGFREE (855-378-4373), by text, email, or Facebook Messenger.

Community Advocates

Community Advocates

Communities can combat over-the-counter (OTC) cough medicine abuse by coming together. If you’re a member of a local anti-drug coalition, engaged in other community advocacy activities, or are looking to get involved, you can help spread awareness of this issue and how to prevent it with the resources below.

Quick Links

Educators

Educators

As an educator, you are likely familiar with a range of substance abuse problems among the students in your school, but is abuse of over-the-counter (OTC) cough medicine on your radar? Knowing what signs to look for and the slang terms teens use when they talk about getting high from cough medicine can help you prevent abuse in your school.

Quick Link

Healthcare Providers

Healthcare Providers

Healthcare providers are uniquely positioned to educate parents about teen over-the-counter (OTC) cough medicine abuse. Providing a cautionary mention during patients’ appointments or offering them the materials below are easy ways to inform patients about this issue. Additionally, providers should encourage parents to talk to their teens and monitor their household medicine supply.

Quick Link

Law Enforcement

Law Enforcement

As the men and women on the frontlines, you can help stop teen over-the-counter (OTC) cough medicine abuse by being on the lookout for teens who have cough medicine bottles, pills, or tablets in their possession or vehicles. Additionally, you can partner with your local community anti-drug coalitions to implement prevention and intervention measures.

Quick Links

Pharmacists & Retailers

Pharmacists & Retailers

Those of you who serve neighborhoods across the country in local pharmacies and other retail outlets interact with community members every day, making you well-positioned to educate them about the issue of teen over-the-counter (OTC) cough medicine abuse. You can help inform the employees at your store location(s) how to prevent medicine abuse by ordering our free educational materials below.

School Nurses

School Nurses

As a school nurse, you know the range of issues parents deal with concerning the health and welfare of their teens. The National Association of School Nurses (NASN) has partnered with us to provide school nurses with tools you can use when spreading awareness in your schools. Many of these tools can be used when speaking at assemblies, Parent Teacher Association meetings, or one-on-one meetings with parents or students.

Quick Link

Resources

Sort by

Topic

Resource Type