On August 1, 2014, Louisiana became the sixth state to enact legislation to restrict the sale of over-the-counter (OTC) cough medicines containing dextromethorphan (DXM) to minors. As a parent of four children, I proudly authored House Bill 514, which took a real step toward preventing substance abuse by our teens and children.
While DXM provides millions of consumers with relief from cold symptoms when taken properly based on labeling instructions, studies indicate that 1 in 30 teens abuse DXM to get high by consuming up to 25 times the recommended dose of OTC cough medicine.
As a lawmaker charged with protecting the children of Louisiana, these statistics deeply worried me. Being an involved parent of four children set to become teenagers very soon, I felt even more compelled to take action.
By preventing the sale of these OTC medications to minors without a prescription, House Bill 514 sent a message to Louisiana teens that when DXM cough medications are abused, there are serious, negative effects. In the past, teens and children dangerously assumed that DXM must be harmless to abuse due to its legal nature.
In addition to correcting this mentality, House Bill 514 addressed the shared concerns of worried Louisiana families that these OTC cough medications were too easily accessible for teens planning to abuse them. Enacting this law made it more difficult for underage teens to engage in abusive behavior without parental knowledge.
This law gave parents across the state peace of mind, without preventing responsible consumers suffering from coughs and colds access. Keeping our children safe is a priority, and I appreciated the opportunity to address this issue.
Learn how you can take action to prevent abuse here.
