Research — CPHA

Teen misuse of OTC cough and cold medicines remains low

A survey found no significant change in intentional misuse of OTC cough and cold meds across grades.

January 7, 2026 . 2:42 PM

3 min read

WASHINGTON, D.C. — Self-reported nonmedical use of OTC cough and cold medicines among U.S. teens stayed low in 2025, according to new data from the annual Monitoring the Future (MTF) survey.

Conducted by the Institute for Social Research at the University of Michigan and funded by the National Institute on Drug Abuse, the survey found that rates of intentional misuse of OTC cough and cold medications did not show a statistically significant change across grade levels.

The 2025 results indicate that misuse was highest among 10th graders and lowest among 12th graders:

8th graders: 4.2%, down slightly from 4.4% in 2024 and below the 4.6% high recorded in 2020
10th graders: 5.1%, up from 4.0% in 2024 but well below the 6% peak in 2009
12th graders: 3.1%, up marginally from 2.8% in 2024 and far below the 6.9% high seen in 2006

Researchers observed that in recent years, the usual pattern has reversed, with higher reported misuse among younger students than seniors. The only other substance category showing a similar trend is inhalants, which researchers say may be due to the relative ease of access to these products at home.

The findings are based on responses from about 25,000 students in 8th, 10th, and 12th grades at both public and private schools across the country. Questions about misuse of OTC cough and cold medicines were included in the MTF survey starting in 2006.

The Consumer Healthcare Products Association (CHPA) said it continues to collaborate with manufacturers, retailers, lawmakers, and prevention partners, including Partnership to End Addiction and CADCA, to reduce teen misuse of products containing dextromethorphan (DXM).

Over the past 16 years, CHPA’s Stop Medicine Abuse campaign has aimed to educate parents, warn at-risk teens, and support laws that restrict DXM sales to minors. These laws are now active in 21 states. Additionally, manufacturers have voluntarily included on-package labels directing parents to educational resources about teen medicine misuse.