TRENTON – A bill sponsored by Senator Barbara Buono which would require that customers be at least 18 years old to purchase over-the-counter cough and cold remedies containing dextromethorphan (DXM) – an ingredient which, when abused by teenagers seeking to get high, can have potentially lethal consequences – was unanimously approved by the Senate Law, Public Safety and Veterans’ Affairs Committee today.
“New Jersey has a responsibility to keep our kids safe from the dangers of drug abuse – whether those drugs are purchased illegally, or over-the-counter,” said Senator Buono, D-Middlesex. “Unfortunately, as the State gets better and better at getting illegal drugs off our streets, kids are turning to over-the-counter cough and cold remedies to get high. We need to crack down on over-the-counter drug abuse, before New Jersey experiences tragedy.”