- Target:
- New Jersey
- Region:
- United States of America
Over the counter medication containing Dextromethorphan, including Coricidin Cold & Cough, are increasingly being abused by teenagers all over the country.
Particularly in the community where I live, I have become aware of the ease in which teens can access (usually stealing) this product. They will take anywhere from 6 to 20 pills at a time, which produces feelings of numbness and hallucinations.
Interestingly enough, I found out that there is currently a bill being considered in NJ which would penalize establishments who knowingly sell products containing Dextromethorphan to anyone under the age of 18. However, it does not address the fact that most underage users are stealing it off of the store shelves.
I have emailed the NJ State Representatives in my district and await a response. I will update this petition when I hear something.
UPDATE: Assemblyman Paul Moriarty contacted me to discuss this situation. He at first felt that it would be a lost cause due to the fact many products on store shelves can be harmful if abused. However, when I explained that these products are being abused in order to get high, much like Sudafed (used to make methamphetamine) which is now behind store counters, he has decided to look further into it.
We, the undersigned, request that all establishments in the state of NJ selling products that contain Dextromethorphan, remove these products from store shelves and relocate them to behind pharmacy and sales counters, as well as require that any person purchasing said products be required to show identification.
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The Remove products containing Dextromethorphan from store shelves petition to New Jersey was written by Georgann Watt and is in the category Health at GoPetition.