Washington, D.C. – The annual Monitoring the Future survey (MTF), conducted by researchers at the University of Michigan and funded by the National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA), shows that the percentage of adolescents reporting any substance use in 2023 continues to “hold steady” and remains below pre-pandemic levels, including abuse of over-the-counter (OTC) cough & cold medicines. The nationally representative cross-sectional survey, which began in 1975, is fielded each year among students in 8th, 10th, and 12th grades. MTF is the most current assessment of self-reported teen substance use in the U.S. OTC medicines were first added to the survey in 2006.
Specifically regarding self-reported teen abuse of OTC cough and cold medicines, researchers note that changes from last year were less than one percentage point for each age group:
- For 8th graders, this year’s level of 4% is higher than last year (3.2%) but still lower than the high of 4.6% recorded in 2020. However, this year’s rate is the highest reported among all ages and shows a continued upward trend that began in 2015.
- For 10th graders, this year’s 3% is lower than in 2022 (3.9%) and significantly lower than the 6% high recorded in 2009.
- Prevalence among 12th graders remained at 2.4% this year which is the second-lowest recorded level since the survey added OTCs in 2006 (the lowest reported level was 1.7% in 2021).
The Consumer Healthcare Products Association (CHPA) works alongside manufacturers, retailers, lawmakers, and educational partners including the Partnership to End Addiction and the Community Anti-Drug Coalitions of America (CADCA), to help prevent teen abuse of OTC cough and cold medicines that contain the ingredient dextromethorphan (DXM). CHPA’s campaigns – “Stop Medicine Abuse” and “What Is DXM” – educate parents about abuse and prevention, inform and warn at-risk teens, and advocate for age-18 sales restrictions to limit access to DXM, which is now effective in 21 states. In addition, OTC manufacturers have voluntarily added package labeling on cough medicines containing DXM ("PARENTS: Learn About Teen Medicine Abuse"), directing consumers to www.StopMedicineAbuse.org, which contains information and resources to inform and empower parents.
