This is a guest post by Blaise Brooks of The Five Moms.
Did you know?
One in three teens knows someone who has abused DXM to get high.
In fact, only 59 percent of teens strongly believe that abusing OTC cough medicine to get high is risky. That means that nearly half believe that it is not.
You may be asking yourself, “What is DXM?” Dextromethorphan (DXM) is found in many over-the-counter (OTC) cough medicines. DXM is a safe and effective ingredient when used as directed, but can produce dangerous side effects when taken in excess.
Many parents make a point of talking with their teens about the risks of abusing substances like alcohol and marijuana, but cough medicine abuse isn’t always top of mind. This is one of the many reasons why October is National Medicine Abuse Awareness Month.
Join the fight to prevent medicine abuse by educating yourself and spreading the word about this risky teen trend.
Here are five ways YOU can get involved in your home and your community to help prevent medicine abuse:
Talk to your teen.
Teens who learn about the risks of drugs from their parents are 50 percent less likely to use drugs. Have a conversation with your teen about the side effects of cough medicine abuse.
Visit WhatisDXM.com with your teen and discuss real stories from young people who tried abusing cough medicine. Offer your teen tips for resisting and standing up against peer pressure.
Share resources and inform other adults about teen medicine abuse.
Visit StopMedicineAbuse.org to find toolkits for educators, parents, law enforcement officials, school nurses, community leaders, and retailers/pharmacists.
You can use the fact sheets, presentations, and other resources within the toolkits to help you start the conversation about teen medicine abuse. You can also host an event in your community to talk about substance abuse, treatment, and intervention strategies.
Participate in the #ToMyTeen campaign.
Research shows that teens who are validated by their parents are more confident and less likely to succumb to peer pressure, which can include the pressure to participate in risky activities such as cough medicine abuse.
The #ToMyTeen campaign was created to spark a conversation among parents about what is positive about raising teens today. Share what makes you proud to be raising a teen. (And remind your teen that, while you may get frustrated at times, at the end of the day, you are always proud to be his or her parent.)
Help to get the PACT Act on the agenda.
Several states across the country have already taken action to prevent the sale of products containing DXM to minors. It makes it harder for teens to purchase these products for this dangerous use, while still keeping cough medicine accessible to those who use it for its intended purpose.
Get active with your local Community Anti-Drug Coalition of America (CADCA) chapter.
Community coalitions are comprised of parents, teachers, businesses, and other community activists who are working together to make their communities drug-free.
Teen medicine abuse can be prevented with education and awareness. This month, take action and start this important conversation. You are also invited to join the Stop Medicine Abuse community on Facebook. Follow us on Twitter for the latest tips, news, and updates on teen and medicine abuse.
Blaise is a mother of one, caregiver of two, accountant, and community advocate. Blaise is also a contributor to The Five Moms blog on StopMedicineAbuse.org, working to spread the word about cough medicine abuse with other parents. Join the conversation by following Stop Medicine Abuse on Facebook and Twitter.
Thank you for reading. You can get more tips in my email newsletter. Every other week, I share tips and ideas to help parents motivate their son or daughter to change if they are struggling with substance use. Join us by entering your email now.
