NACDS prefers awareness to keep DXM products on shelf

In an apparent effort to keep cough and cold medications like those containing dextromethorphan accessible in OTC aisles, the National Association of Chain Drug Stores NACDS Foundation last month joined such organizations as the Consumer Healthcare Products Association in educating the public on the dangers of abusing prescription and over-the-counter drugs.

The NACDS Foundation granted $50,000 to support the Boys & Girls Clubs of Greater Washington on a program to raise awareness among at-risk teens about the importance of community pharmacies and the dangers of abusing prescription and over-the-counter drugs.

“Working with BGCGW is a great opportunity for our organization to spread knowledge to the youth in our own backyard,” stated Phil Schneider, NACDS Foundation president. “Bringing real pharmacy experiences into the lives of these children will enable them to have a more profound respect and understanding of how useful a pharmacy can be in their lives and their families’ lives.”

The initiatives are indicative of lessons learned from the pseudoephedrine migration behind the pharmacy counter, one industry executive suggested—proactively addressing the abuse of DXM in a public forum ought to secure a seat at the table when legislators start talking about passing laws to restrict access. And it’s an important seat to grab. Pushing DXM products behind the pharmacy counter is expected to have a much greater negative impact on cough and cold sales and pharmacy service than PSE—first, because there are many more products containing DXM than there were PSE, and second, there are no equivalent over-the-counter alternatives to DXM, which could create a logjam of coughing customers at the pharmacy counter.

According to NACDS, there are seven states considering legislation that would restrict access to DXM—six of those bills would prohibit the sale of DXM to minors, a practice most retailers already practice voluntarily, and three would require a greater degree of inventory control over DXM.

NACDS cited national surveys indicating that teens are intentionally abusing OTCs and prescription drugs at increasing rates compared with illicit drugs to get high. After marijuana, prescription drugs are the second-most abused drug among those between the ages of 12 and 17, the association noted.

CHPA has maintained that the most effective tool in its fight against OTC abuse is awareness—awareness among parents, teachers and law enforcement. According to CHPA, prompting parents to discuss drug abuse with their kids cuts down the amount of that drug abuse by half.

According to CHPA, data collected by the Partnership for a Drug-Free America show that 1-in-10, or 2.4 million young people, report having abused dextromethorphan-containing medicines to get high, hence the focus of anti-DXM legislation.

CHPA’s latest initiative launched earlier this summer was the organization’s online Five Moms Campaign intended to drive parents to action—educating themselves on substance abuse with medicines, talking with their children about the risks of such abuse and spreading the word to other parents.