The following statement was e-mailed to Channel 4 Action News on Nov. 12, 2003:
Schering-Plough HealthCare Products is tremendously concerned about reports of the abuse of Coricidin HBP Cold & Cough, which underscore the dangers associated with the misuse of over-the-counter products and the importance of using over-the-counter medications at the dosage indicated on the label.
Coricidin products contain safe and effective ingredients that have been used by millions of consumers to relieve symptoms associated with colds and the flu for over fifty years. Coricidin products have been available over-the-counter since 1951. The Coricidin HBP brand is the only line of cold and flu products specially formulated to be decongestant-free for people with high blood pressure, offering hypertensive patients a safe and effective choice for treating cold and flu symptoms.
Unfortunately, the abuse of over-the-counter products by teens is a long-standing issue. This includes the abuse of products containing dextromethorphan, one of the active ingredients in Coricidin HBP Cough & Cold. Dextromethorphan is a safe and effective cough suppressant found in more than 125 over-the-counter (OTC) products and has been safely used for more than 47 years. It is the most commonly used OTC cough suppressant found in nearly half of the OTC cough and cold remedies purchased by adults in the U.S.
According to the Consumer Healthcare Products Association (CHPA), there have been industry reports of the abuse of dextromethorphan since 1994. Schering-Plough HealthCare Products has been actively monitoring reports concerning misuse of our products that contain dextromethorphan and takes such reports very seriously.
While Schering-Plough HealthCare Products is committed to maintaining the availability of Coricidin HBP Cough & Cold for the consumers who rely on it, we are addressing the issue of dextromethorphan abuse on several fronts. We have spoken with school officials, parents and retailers on the issues surrounding the abuse of dextromethorphan, and are working closely with a nationally-recognized drug abuse expert on ways to address these issues.
Recognizing the important role parents and educators play in addressing drug abuse, we are also working closely with industry organizations and through credible drug education channels to inform parents and educators on the importance of the proper use of OTC medications. The company recently provided an unrestricted educational grant to the Partnership for Drug Free America to support the development of a Web site aimed at educating families and teens about the dangers of dextromethorphan abuse. The Web site is currently under development.
Through the CHPA, Schering-Plough HealthCare Products and other companies formed a task force to address the issue of dextromethorphan abuse and partnered with the Council on Family Health to provide an online resource for parents and educators on the importance of the proper use of over-the-counter medications. To access this online informational resource, please visit the Council on Family Health Web site at
www.cfhinfo.org. Under What's New on the homepage, click on A Word to Parents and Educators.
The company also approached the Office of National Drug Control Policy (ONDCP) to help raise awareness to parents of over-the-counter product and dextromethorphan abuse among the teenage population. As a result of bringing the issue to the attention of the ONDCP, an article on dextromethorphan was developed and posted on the antidrug.com site serving as a resource for parents and educators. To access this online educational resource for parents, please visit the Web site at
www.theantidrug.com/advice/articles_dmx.html.
Consumer health is our number one priority. We are committed to providing safe and effective healthcare solutions for the millions of Americans who use our products.
