Misuse of Over-the-Counter Cough or Cold Medications Among Adolescents: Prevalence and Correlates in a National Sample

Received 10 July 2008; accepted 23 October 2008. published online 05 January 2009.

Abstract

The current research examines the misuse of over-the-counter cough/cold medications among adolescents with data from the 2006 National Survey on Drug Use and Health. Findings indicate that age, gender, family income, physical and mental health, and the use of alcohol and other drugs are correlates of the misuse of over-the-counter cough/cold medications.

Keywords: Adolescence, Substance use, Over-the-counter medications, Dextromethorphan, Risk factors

Department of Sociology, University of Central Florida, Orlando, Florida

Address correspondence to: Jason A. Ford, Ph.D., Department of Sociology, University of Central Florida, Orlando, FL 32816-1360.

PII: S1054-139X(08)00587-9

doi:10.1016/j.jadohealth.2008.10.140

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