Parents: a message from Haleon on Teenage Medicine Abuse

We’d like to tell you about a behavioral trend among teens known as medicine abuse — the intentional abuse of prescription and over-the-counter medicines to get high. Haleon, the makers of cough and cold medicines Robitussin® and Dimetapp®, is concerned that some teens are taking excessive amounts of nonprescription cough medicine containing dextromethorphan (DXM) to get high. We want our medicines to be respected and used appropriately. Another concern is that most parents are unaware of this behavior.

We want to help protect teens from the dangers of medicine abuse, but we need your help to accomplish this goal. Experts have told us that medicine abuse is preventable and that you, the parents, are our best defense. In fact, teens who talk to their parents about medicine abuse are half as likely to engage in this behavior.