Recent research shows that while parents are aware of warnings against the dangers of illicit street drugs, both prescription medicine and over-the-counter (OTC) cough medicines are often overlooked as a potential threat. An estimated one in 10 people, aged 12–17, or 2.4 million kids, have intentionally abused cough medicine to get high.

Cold and cough medicines are available in any drug store and are safe and effective when used properly and responsibly. Only 45 percent of teens believe that abusing cough medicine to get high is risky, which means that more than half believe it is not. But taking large quantities of over-the-counter medicines containing dextromethorphan or DXM can produce a hallucinogenic, dissociative and dangerous high. It's an alarming teen trend you need to know about. It's time for a dose of prevention.

The Multijurisdictional Counterdrug Task Force Training Program (MCTFT), Community Anti-Drug Coalitions of America (CADCA), and the Consumer Healthcare Products Association (CHPA) are teaming up for a LIVE and interactive broadcast. An expert panel will be ready and waiting to take your calls and answer any questions you might have about cough syrup abuse.

We'll hear from a mother whose son, now 22-years-old, is serving a 13-year prison sentence in Folsom State Prison for actions he took while under the influence. We'll also hear from young people who abused cough medicine and tell their stories in hopes of preventing someone else from going down the same road. Also, see how CADCA and CHPA are joining forces to educate parents, engage coalitions and reduce this problem through education and policy change. Learn about efforts to designate and recognize August as National Medicine Abuse Awareness Month. Find out how your community can get involved.

Learning Objectives:

• Is Cough Medicine Abuse on Your Radar Screen? Get the national statistics and learn how you can gather local data to see if this is a problem in your community.
• Learn the risks of OTC cough medicine abuse.
• Know the Signs of Cough Medicine Abuse.
• Find out how the Internet is being used to promote this abuse.
• Discover concrete action steps that parents and communities can take to prevent this dangerous trend.
• See how CADCA and CHPA are joining forces to educate parents, engage coalitions and reduce this problem through education and increased awareness

Content Providers:

• Linda A. Suydam, D.P.A., Consumer Healthcare Products Association (CHPA) President
  Linda Suydam is the president and principal spokesperson for CHPA under the guidance and direction of the CHPA Board of Directors. She has a B.A. from College of New Jersey, a M.A. from George Washington University, and a M.P.A., D.P.A. from the  University of Southern California. Suydam joined CHPA as its president in June 2002. Since then she has directed the establishment of the Consumer Health Education Center (CHEC), CHPA’s educational foundation; has increased opportunities for synergistic cooperation between member firms by establishing the annual Market Exchange and retail immersion events; and enhanced the Association’s positive relationship with the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) through educational seminars, conferences, and joint learning opportunities. Prior to joining CHPA, Suydam enjoyed a 21-year career at FDA, rising from an entry-level position to senior associate commissioner, the highest-ranking, non-political executive position in the Agency. During her career, she received the Presidential Meritorious Rank Award, the Department of Health and Human Services Distinguished Service Award, and the Public Health Service Superior Service Award. She left FDA for three years to serve as the associate vice president of the Health Sciences Center of the University of New Mexico with responsibility for planning, development, public relations, and marketing. Suydam is a member of several boards of directors, including the World Self-Medication Industry Federation, the University of California-San Francisco School of Pharmacy Board of Visitors, and the National Children's Medical Center's Children's Research Institute Board.
   
• Christy Crandell, Drug Awareness Advocate, Author, Lincoln, CA
  Christy Crandell is an author and drug awareness advocate from Lincoln, Calif. Dedicated to educating parents about the issue of teen drug abuse, Crandell serves as the parent outreach coordinator for the Rocklin Unified School District. In addition, she is a teacher with The Parent Project®, a national parenting program for parents of teens exhibiting out-of-control or destructive behavior, and works with her county on several grants for programs on teen alcohol and drug abuse. Crandell’s passion for the issue of teen drug abuse comes from personal experience. Her son Ryan, now 22-years-old, is serving a 13-year sentence in Folsom State Prison for an armed robbery he committed while high on over-the-counter cough medicine and marijuana. For Crandell, sharing her story with parents and hopefully helping them avoid her family’s tragedy is her mission. Her book, Lost & Found: A Mother and Son Find Victory over Teen Drug Addiction, tells her family’s story and provides important information and resources about drug abuse for parents.  Crandell is also one of five moms from across the country that make up the Five Moms: Stopping Cough Medicine Abuse campaign, an online education and awareness campaign designed to educate parents about the problem of over-the-counter cough medicine abuse amongst teens. Crandell’s greatest hope is that her work with Five Moms will prevent other parents from having to get their education the hard way, as she did.
   
• Cynthia R. Lewis-Younger, MD, MPH, Florida Poison Information Center-Tampa
  Dr. Lewis-Younger currently is the Managing/Medical Director of the Florida Poison Information Center-Tampa. Prior to accepting the Managing/Medical Director position in May 2006, Dr. Lewis-Younger was the Associate Medical Director for the center, as well as the Medical Director of Comprehensive Occupational Medicine for Business and Industry (COMBI). Before completing her Medical Toxicology fellowship at the Oregon Health and Sciences University in 2002, she was an Assistant Professor of Occupational Medicine from 1995-2000 at the University of Utah.  She served as Medical Officer in the Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry from 1991 to 1995. Dr. Lewis-Younger graduated from the University of Alabama School of Medicine in 1979, and practiced Emergency Medicine and Occupational Medicine in the 1980s. Dr. Lewis-Younger is Board-certified in Occupational Medicine and Medical Toxicology.
   
• Eric Gregory, Executive Director, The Save Our Kids Coalition
  Eric Gregory is a founding member and Executive Director of the Save Our Kids Coalition in Bowling Green, Kentucky. He is a Certified Prevention Professional and currently serves as Secretary on the Kentucky Certification Board for Prevention Professionals (KCBPP). He serves as a member on several local boards including the Warren County Juvenile Delinquency Prevention Council and Warren County Kentucky Agency for Substance Abuse Policy Board. With over Six years of experience as a Prevention Professional, he has served as an expert panelist and assisted many communities in developing anti-drug coalitions and implementing evidence-based Prevention practices.

You can view this broadcast at http://secure.shs.net/MCTFT/webcasts/w.aspx?ID=536.