Consumer Healthcare Products Association thanks Washington State gov for signing SSHB 2163 bill

The Consumer Healthcare Products Association thanks Washington State Governor Jay Inslee for signing SSHB 2163 and Rep. Paul Harris for the initial introduction of the legislation. The legislation will prohibit retail outlets from selling over-the-counter (OTC) cough medicines containing dextromethorphan (DXM) to those under 18 without a prescription.

"The makers of over-the-counter medicines want to acknowledge Governor Inslee, Rep. Paul Harris and the Washington State legislature for taking a major step to address teen cough medicine abuse," CHPA President and CEO Scott Melville said. "The passage of similar legislation in states across the country indicates that there is a growing support for this measure. We hope this action in Washington State will help generate further support for a national law."

According to the 2013 National Institute on Drug Abuse's (NIDA) Monitoring the Future Survey, approximately one in 25 teens abuses DXM to get high.

"As a proud Washingtonian, my objective was to enact legislation that would address the key factor in this dangerous behavior, ease of access. By prohibiting teens from purchasing these medicines on their own, without their parents' knowledge, we can deter them from engaging in this behavior," said Harris.

Upon enactment of this bill, Washington will join Virginia, California, and New York as the fourth state to place an age-18 restriction on DXM sales.