Ohio legislature passes ban on over-the-counter cough syrup sales to children - cleveland.com

COLUMBUS, Ohio—Legislation to ban sales of over-the-counter cough medicine to children in Ohio is on its way to Gov. Mike DeWine after passing a final legislative vote Wednesday.

House Bill 9, which passed the Ohio Senate unanimously, would require people under age 18 to get a doctor's prescription to purchase DayQuil, Robitussin, and other cough suppressants that contain dextromethorphan. Such medicines are sometimes taken in large doses (in some cases, mixed with alcohol or energy drinks) by children to get high – a practice that some call "robotripping."

Overdosing on dextromethorphan can cause nausea, blurred vision, confusion and other symptoms. Cough syrup also contains other drugs, such as acetaminophen, that can cause other major medical issues if taken in large quantities.

A 2020 survey conducted by the National Institute on Drug Abuse and the University of Michigan found that 3.7% of teens reported using cough medicine containing dextromethorphan to get high. That's up from 2.8% in 2019.

"We've seen that often we are dealing with all kinds of addiction. And sometimes it starts in the most innocent of places," said state Sen. Nickie Antonio, a Lakewood Democrat. "And so, with this bill, I think it recognizes that we should not let our children – and they are our children, until they are over 18 – have these kind of medicines in their hands."

At least 19 other states have already imposed similar restrictions on cough-medicine sales to children.