drdĒv
02-26-2005, 06:52 PM
In Our View: Crowded shelf
Coricidin joins pseudoephedrine behind counter
Move over, pseudoephedrine, you're about to have some company.
Fearful of the attractive high of the over-the-counter cold medicine for people with high blood pressure, pharmacies are beginning to limit the amount of Coricidin that can be bought and some are putting the drug behind the pharmacy counter and treating its sales like that of pseudoephedrine-sales limits, identification and signature required.
What the kids are after is an ingredient in Coricidin called dextromethorphan, a preparation that in proper quantities helps reduce coughing but in higher concentrations causes a psychedelic-like high.
It's a cheap way for kids to get a buzz, and it's becoming popular with younger teens who so far have had little problem buying what they want-at least for now. Sooner or later Coricidin will join other OTC medications that have a real, effective purpose but in the wrong hands can be abused or turned into other, more dangerous illegal drugs.
Of course, it would be far better if we truly understood the causes of addiction and what compels teens and young children to test their mortality with mind-altering substances. But until we know more about addiction and work to end the demand rather than starve the supply, the best approach is to restrict the sales of drugs that become popular because of their abuse potential.
Consumers with a legitimate need for such medications are the ones who bear most of the inconvenience, but sometimes that's a small price to pay when the end result is a reduction in the amount of illegal drugs available on our streets. Restricting sales of pseudoephedrine has proved to be effective, and that should hold true for Coricidin. It's not the best solution, but it's a reasonable effort until something better emerges.
http://www.texarkanagazette.com/articles/2.../opinions01.txt (http://www.texarkanagazette.com/articles/2005/02/25/local_news/opinion/opinions01.txt)
Coricidin joins pseudoephedrine behind counter
Move over, pseudoephedrine, you're about to have some company.
Fearful of the attractive high of the over-the-counter cold medicine for people with high blood pressure, pharmacies are beginning to limit the amount of Coricidin that can be bought and some are putting the drug behind the pharmacy counter and treating its sales like that of pseudoephedrine-sales limits, identification and signature required.
What the kids are after is an ingredient in Coricidin called dextromethorphan, a preparation that in proper quantities helps reduce coughing but in higher concentrations causes a psychedelic-like high.
It's a cheap way for kids to get a buzz, and it's becoming popular with younger teens who so far have had little problem buying what they want-at least for now. Sooner or later Coricidin will join other OTC medications that have a real, effective purpose but in the wrong hands can be abused or turned into other, more dangerous illegal drugs.
Of course, it would be far better if we truly understood the causes of addiction and what compels teens and young children to test their mortality with mind-altering substances. But until we know more about addiction and work to end the demand rather than starve the supply, the best approach is to restrict the sales of drugs that become popular because of their abuse potential.
Consumers with a legitimate need for such medications are the ones who bear most of the inconvenience, but sometimes that's a small price to pay when the end result is a reduction in the amount of illegal drugs available on our streets. Restricting sales of pseudoephedrine has proved to be effective, and that should hold true for Coricidin. It's not the best solution, but it's a reasonable effort until something better emerges.
http://www.texarkanagazette.com/articles/2.../opinions01.txt (http://www.texarkanagazette.com/articles/2005/02/25/local_news/opinion/opinions01.txt)