Texas Bans Sales Of OTC Cough Drugs To Minors

(Austin, TX) — As of September 1st, it’ll be illegal for Texans under the age of 18 to buy certain over-the-counter cough medicines.

Gov. Greg Abbott signed a bill earlier this month that outlaws the sale of products containing dextromethorphan to minors. The drug is a cough suppressant used in more than 100 nonprescription medicines, including Robitussin and NyQuil. The National Institute on Drug Abuse says about 3% of high school seniors get high by using large doses of cough medicine.

Texas is the 19th state to pass a law limiting access to the drug.