N.J. legislators propose age verification to purchase OTC cough/cold medicines

TRENTON, N.J. Two New Jersey lawmakers are proposing a ban on the sale of some cough/cold products to minors out of concern for potential abuse—most notably the abuse of the cough suppressant dextromethorphan—in a bill to be introduced this fall, according to a report in Newsday published Wednesday.

The bill is being proposed by Sens. Barbara Buono, D-Edison, N.J., and Tom Kean, Jr., R-Westfield, N.J., and would require retailers to verify a customer’s age before selling any product containing DXM.

The industry in the past has supported both federal and retail efforts to implement sales restrictions prohibiting the purchase of products containing dextromethorphan by those under the age of 18. In 2007, Sen. Joseph Biden, D-Del., introduced S. 2274, the Dextromethorphan Abuse Reduction Act, which would prevent teens under the age of 18 from purchasing cough medicine containing dextromethorphan, a bill that was supported by the Consumer Healthcare Products Association, the Community Anti-Drug Coalitions of America, the Food Marketing Institute, the National Association of Chain Drug Stores, and the Parternship for a Drug-Free America.

Most retailers already require cashiers to verify the age of the consumer before selling DXM products.

“DXM abuse can have lasting and potentially fatal consequences for teenagers who misuse this legal, inexpensive and easily accessible substance in order to achieve a high,” Buono told the New York regional daily.