drdĒv
06-14-2005, 08:29 PM
Drug Companies Try to Keep DMX on Shelves
6/13/2005
Pharmaceutical firms have given in to public and government pressure and endorsed putting drugs containing pseudoephedrine (PSE) behind pharmacy counters to prevent their diversion to methamphetamine production. But the industry is fighting proposals to put similar restrictions on medications containing dextromethorphan (DXM), a cough medicine frequently abused by teens.
The Wall Street Journal reported June 10 that drug companies are working with states to limit youth access to drugs like Wyeth's Robitussin, Johnson & Johnson's Tylenol Cold & Flu and Schering-Plough Corp.'s Coricidin HBP, but want to see the drugs remain on store shelves. Mary Ann Wagner, vice president of pharmacy regulatory affairs for the National Association of Chain Drug Stores, said the drug industry "suffered through these PSE issues for so many years ... When they saw DXM, they said, 'Never again' and are trying to get in front of it."
The industry makes about $858 million annually from sales of products containing DXM. The Consumer Healthcare Products Association is trying to protect the market segment by supporting bills in six states (California, New York, Connecticut, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, and Rhode Island) that would prohibit sales of DXM drugs to minors but still allow them to be sold to adults without the involvement of a pharmacist. The group also is working with Congressional lawmakers to sponsor a federal bill to outlaw bulk sales of DXM to the public, and is funding a Partnership for a Drug-Free America public-education campaign.
The Partnership estimates that 9 percent of teens have abused cough medicines.
CVS already bans sales of DXM drugs to minors, while Walgreens bars purchases of more than three packages of Coricidin HBP, which contains high levels of DXM.
This article is online at http://www.jointogether.org/y/0,2521,577373,00.html
Visit www.jointogether.org for complete news and funding coverage, resources and advocacy tools to advance effective drug and alcohol policy, prevention and treatment.
Receive free news and funding headlines by email! Sign up at www.jointogether.org/jtodirect
This information may be freely reproduced and distributed, provided that attribution is made to "Join Together Online (www.jointogether.org)."
Join Together is a project of the Boston University School of Public Health.
http://www.jointogether.org/sa/news/summar...77373%2C00.html (http://www.jointogether.org/sa/news/summaries/reader/0%2C1854%2C577373%2C00.html)
/me silently snickers @ the title B)
6/13/2005
Pharmaceutical firms have given in to public and government pressure and endorsed putting drugs containing pseudoephedrine (PSE) behind pharmacy counters to prevent their diversion to methamphetamine production. But the industry is fighting proposals to put similar restrictions on medications containing dextromethorphan (DXM), a cough medicine frequently abused by teens.
The Wall Street Journal reported June 10 that drug companies are working with states to limit youth access to drugs like Wyeth's Robitussin, Johnson & Johnson's Tylenol Cold & Flu and Schering-Plough Corp.'s Coricidin HBP, but want to see the drugs remain on store shelves. Mary Ann Wagner, vice president of pharmacy regulatory affairs for the National Association of Chain Drug Stores, said the drug industry "suffered through these PSE issues for so many years ... When they saw DXM, they said, 'Never again' and are trying to get in front of it."
The industry makes about $858 million annually from sales of products containing DXM. The Consumer Healthcare Products Association is trying to protect the market segment by supporting bills in six states (California, New York, Connecticut, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, and Rhode Island) that would prohibit sales of DXM drugs to minors but still allow them to be sold to adults without the involvement of a pharmacist. The group also is working with Congressional lawmakers to sponsor a federal bill to outlaw bulk sales of DXM to the public, and is funding a Partnership for a Drug-Free America public-education campaign.
The Partnership estimates that 9 percent of teens have abused cough medicines.
CVS already bans sales of DXM drugs to minors, while Walgreens bars purchases of more than three packages of Coricidin HBP, which contains high levels of DXM.
This article is online at http://www.jointogether.org/y/0,2521,577373,00.html
Visit www.jointogether.org for complete news and funding coverage, resources and advocacy tools to advance effective drug and alcohol policy, prevention and treatment.
Receive free news and funding headlines by email! Sign up at www.jointogether.org/jtodirect
This information may be freely reproduced and distributed, provided that attribution is made to "Join Together Online (www.jointogether.org)."
Join Together is a project of the Boston University School of Public Health.
http://www.jointogether.org/sa/news/summar...77373%2C00.html (http://www.jointogether.org/sa/news/summaries/reader/0%2C1854%2C577373%2C00.html)
/me silently snickers @ the title B)