The abuse of dextromethorphan-based cough syrup: a pilot study of the community of Waynesboro, Pennsylvania

Adolescence, Fall, 1996 by Momodou N. Darboe, Gerald R. Keenan, Jr., Tamara K. Richards

RESULTS

School personnel were asked whether they agreed or disagreed with a list of statements concerning OTC products, such as the adequacy of government regulations, and the demographic characteristics of potential abusers of these products. Table 1 shows the percentage who agreed, were uncertain, or disagreed with the statements about OTC products. Although the population was almost evenly divided among those who agreed (37%), were uncertain (34%), or disagreed (29%) about the adequacy of government regulation of OTC products, over 90% believed that OTC products have a potential for abuse and that the potential for abuse for some of these products is greater than for others. Almost 70% agreed that OTC product abuse is increasing, nearly the same percentage who indicated that abuse was already a social problem.

The assumption that teenagers are the primary abusers or potential abusers of dextromethorphan-based cough syrup was confirmed by the fact that one-forth of school personnel in Waynesboro agreed that OTC product abuse in general was mainly a problem among teenagers, compared to fewer than 5% who believed such abuse to be primarily a problem among males, senior citizens, or racial minorities.

As also shown in Table 1, nearly two thirds believed that OTC product abuse leads to the abuse of controlled substances, while only a slightly smaller percentage (55%) concur with the statement that OTC products are abused along with controlled substances. Although 40% expressed uncertainty, the same percentage disagreed with the statement that current research into the use of OTC products and their abuse is adequate to protect the consumer.

Table 1: Percent distribution of extent of agreement with
statements
regarding abuse of over-the-counter products

                             Agree   Uncertain   Disagree
                                      PERCENT

Government regulations
of OTC products are          37.4      33.5        29.1
currently adequate to
protect the consumer

OTC products have            95.7       2.5         1.8
potential for abuse

Some OTC products            92.1       5.0         2.9
have more potential
for abuse than others

OTC product abuse is         68.6      28.6         2.9
increasing

OTC product abuse is         71.3      21.1         7.5
a social problem

OTC product abuse is          2.9      41.4        55.8
mainly a problem among
males

OTC product abuse is         26.1      31.8        42.1
mainly a problem with
teenagers

OTC product abuse is          4.6      36.1        59.3
mainly a problem with
senior citizens

OTC product abuse is          5.0      40.4        54.6
mainly a problem with
racial minorities

OTC product abuse            62.4      28.3         9.3
often leads to abuse of
controlled substances

OTC products are             54.7      38.8         6.5
abused together with
controlled substances

Current research into        21.1      37.9        41.1
the use of OTC products
and their abuses is
adequate to protect the
consumer