Number of Teens Abusing Cough Medicine Soars

Ilene B. Anderson, PharmD, reports in the December Archives of Pediatrics and Adolescent Medicine that the number of California teenagers using over-the-counter cough medicines to get high has soared in recent years, mirroring a national trend. Anderson is senior author of the paper and a clinical pharmacist at the San Francisco division of the California Poison Control System. She also serves as a clinical professor in the UCSF clinical pharmacy department.
"Dextromethorphan Abuse in Adolescence: An Increasing Trend: 1999-2004" Jodi K. Bryner, PharmD; Uerica K. Wang, PharmD; Jenny W. Hui, PharmD; Merilin Bedodo, PharmD; Conan MacDougall, PharmD; Ilene B. Anderson, PharmD Archives of Pediatrics & Adolescent Medicine 2006;160:1217-1222. December 2006 Abstract | Full Text | Full Text (PDF)
Related Links: Number of Teens Abusing Cough Medicine Soars KPIX-TV (CBS), December 4, 2006 Tom Vacar Reports on More California Teens Abusing Cough Medicines KTVU-TV (FOX), December 4, 2006 Adolescent Abuse of Over-the-counter Cold Medicine Soars UCSF News Release, December 4, 2006