California Teens Need a Prescription for Cough Syrup

California is the first and right now, the only state in the nation to require a prescription for any medicine, containing dextromethorphan or DXM, a common ingredient in over the counter cough syrups.

Larry Koenig is a pharmacist at the Town Center Compounding Pharmacy. He tells us, “California is always taken a forefront to doing things that might prevent someone from getting hurt.” Koenig says a standard dose of DXM, to treat a common cough is 10 milligrams and if you take more, it can be extremely dangerous. “The dosages of 100 to 200 mg are enough to put you in a high and when you get up to the 700 mg range, that can be serious and life can go out the window.”

Many teens take cough syrup to get high because it’s been so easily accessible. So, some parents we spoke with are happy about the new law.

Steven Tritt is a parent, living in Palm Desert and he says he agrees with the new law. “I think it’s pretty good. Kids are inhaling paint and cool whip, so I agree with it. I think it’s a good thing.”

While others like Diane Ritchie say it’s a parent’s responsibility to make sure kids don’t abuse it. “Remembering back to when they were teenagers, as a parent you trust your children and know who their friends are. Still in my case, i’m not that concerned about it at all.”

Leslie Taft is a teacher at College of the Desert and she says, “I’m really for protecting the kids and trying to keep them as safe as possible. In our day, it used to be you would take cough syrup as a cure for a cough. Now you take it for other things. So, I think parents should be involved.

Much like alcohol, you will still see the bottles on store shelves, but if you take it to the register, you will have to show an I.D. and a doctor’s prescription, before you walk out the door.

Recreational use of DXM is commonly known as “robo-tripping”. The prefix comes from the popular cold medicine, Robitussin and their bottles clearly read that you must be 18 or older, in order to purchase.

Knowingly selling medicine like Robitussin, without a prescription, is now punishable, by a fine of up to $250.00. Stores selling it, need to use a cash register, with an age-verification feature, directing the clerk to request I.D. before selling it.

Pharmacists like Koenig are sad they have to go to these lengths. He says, “It’s a sorry situation, we’re living in.”