Westchester County mulls ban on cough medicine sales to minors

WHITE PLAINS, N.Y. Lawmakers in New York’s Westchester County, concerned about abuse of over-the-counter cough medicine ingredient DXM, are considering a ban on the sale of such medicines to anyone under the age of 18.

Two committees were formed by the county Board of Legislators to examine the ramifications of such a ban, according to published reports.

“There is growing usage of these medications as a means of getting high, especially among students in the middle school and high school,” Judy Myers, a member of both the Community Services and Legislation committees, was quoted as saying.

The nearby counties of Nassau and Suffolk on Long Island have both adopted legislation restricting the sales of those cough medicines, though Westchester lawmakers are also weighing the alternative option of allowing the sales to minors, but limiting the amount they may purchase.