Legislature(2015 - 2016)BELTZ 105 (TSBldg)
04/12/2016 01:30 PM Senate LABOR & COMMERCE
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| Audio | Topic |
|---|---|
| Start | |
| SB203 | |
| SB118 | |
| HB125 | |
| HB314 | |
| SB206 | |
| HB254 | |
| SB55 | |
| Adjourn |
* first hearing in first committee of referral
+ teleconferenced
= bill was previously heard/scheduled
+ teleconferenced
= bill was previously heard/scheduled
| += | SB 203 | TELECONFERENCED | |
| += | SB 118 | TELECONFERENCED | |
| += | SB 156 | TELECONFERENCED | |
| += | HB 125 | TELECONFERENCED | |
| += | HB 314 | TELECONFERENCED | |
| += | SB 206 | TELECONFERENCED | |
| + | HB 254 | TELECONFERENCED | |
| += | SB 55 | TELECONFERENCED | |
| + | TELECONFERENCED | ||
HB 125-RESTRICTIONS ON SALE OF DEXTROMETHORPHAN
1:47:20 PM
CHAIR COSTELLO reconvened the meeting and announced the
consideration of HB 314. She relayed the intent to hear from the
sponsor and the administration, take member's questions, and
hold the bill for future consideration.
1:47:58 PM
GRACE ABBOTT, Staff, Representative Charisse Millett, introduced
HB 125 on behalf of the sponsor speaking to the following
sponsor statement:
For over 50 years, families have relied upon cough and
cold medicines containing dextromethorphan (DXM) to
treat their coughs. Today, more than 100 over the
counter cough and cold products contain DXM. When used
correctly, DXM-containing medicines are safe and
effective, but when abused can produce dangerous side
effects. According to a 2013 National Institute of
Drug Abuse study, four percent of teenagers - 8th
graders through 12th graders - have intentionally
taken exceedingly large amounts of cough medicine
containing DXM to get high. At high doses, e.g. 8 to
50 times the maximum labeled dose, DXM can produce
hallucinations, confusion, blurred vision, nausea,
excessive fatigue, and loss of motor control.
To help address this problem and combat the number of
teens who abuse DXM, House Bill 125 prohibits the sale
of DXM to those under 18 years of age without a
prescription. This simple step, asking for proof of
age prior to sale, would maintain access to effective,
over the counter cough medicines for Americans who use
them to treat cough symptoms associated with colds and
the flu, while limiting access to the small but
significant number of adolescents who might abuse
them. The penalty for those who sell to minors would
be a $150 for the first violation, and $250 for the
second and any future violation. Alaskans take
substance abuse issues very seriously, and the abuse
of DXM should be no exception.
1:50:42 PM
KACI SCHROEDER, Assistant Attorney General, Legal Services
Section, Criminal Division, Department of Law (DOL), stated that
the administration does not have an official position on HB 125,
but believes that Ms. Abbott accurately articulated the problem
and that the bill can be implemented as drafted.
1:51:32 PM
CHAIR COSTELLO opened public testimony on HB 125.
1:51:54 PM
SENATOR MEYER asked if products containing DXM would be placed
behind the counter and customers would need to show ID and
register in order to make a purchase.
MS. ABBOTT said no, but an ID check would be triggered at the
point of sale. The concern with dextromethorphan relates to age,
whereas the concern with Sudafed is the potential manufacture of
another drug.
SENATOR MEYER asked if there is a penalty for young people who
try to purchase dextromethorphan.
MS. ABBOTT said there is no intent to penalize anyone purchasing
the drug; the onus is on the vender.
SENATOR MEYER asked if the vender would display an information
sign to keep young people from attempting to purchase the
medicine.
MS. ABBOTT replied many retailers voluntarily have put up signs
and she believes that is an effective way to get the message
across.
1:54:16 PM
SEAN MOORE, Consumer Health Care Product Association (CHCPA),
said he is speaking in support of HB 125 on behalf of the
national trade association that represents the over-the-counter
medicine industry. They have worked closely with the sponsor. He
summarized that the bill would simply prohibit the sale of over-
the-counter products containing dextromethorphan to those under
age 18. The drug was first approved by the Food and Drug
Administration (FDA) in the 1950s and now is the most widely
used cough suppressant on the market. It is nonnarcotic and does
not produce physical dependence when taken according to the
directions. However, a significant number of teens have been
abusing DXM to get high, often ingesting as much as 25 times the
recommended dose. This can produce side effects that include
distortions of color and sound, confusion, loss of motor
control, nausea and vomiting. The National Institute on Drug
Abuse in 2009 reported that about 5.25 percent of teens in
grades 8, 10, and 12 admitted abusing DXM in the past year.
MR. MOORE said the industry takes the issue of medicine abuse
very seriously and has committed to the FDA to help reduce the
abuse rate. As part of that effort, they have partnered with
organizations that have expertise in preventing and reducing
medicine abuse by youth. Members of CHCPA have voluntarily
committed to include bold warnings on their packaging and
directing parents to a website. More recently, they have begun
supporting legislation similar to HB 125. He emphasized that
this is an easy bipartisan issue and the evidence shows that it
is working. He urged the committee to support HB 125.
1:57:51 PM
CHAIR COSTELLO closed public testimony and held HB 125 in
committee for future consideration.