****DXM News: "Schering-Plough Statement"****

  My deconstruction follows:

http://www.thepittsburghchannel.com/family/2632633/detail.html

Schering-Plough Statement
The following statement was e-mailed to Channel 4 Action News on Nov.
12, 2003:

Schering-Plough HealthCare Products is tremendously concerned about
reports of the abuse of Coricidin HBP Cold & Cough, which underscore the
dangers associated with the misuse of over-the-counter products and the
importance of using over-the-counter medications at the dosage indicated
on the label.

Coricidin products contain safe and effective ingredients that have been
used by millions of consumers to relieve symptoms associated with colds
and the flu for over fifty years. Coricidin products have been available
over-the-counter since 1951. The Coricidin HBP brand is the only line of
cold and flu products specially formulated to be decongestant-free for
people with high blood pressure, offering hypertensive patients a safe
and effective choice for treating cold and flu symptoms.

Unfortunately, the abuse of over-the-counter products by teens is a
long-standing issue. This includes the abuse of products containing
dextromethorphan, one of the active ingredients in Coricidin HBP Cough &
Cold. Dextromethorphan is a safe and effective cough suppressant found
in more than 125 over-the-counter (OTC) products and has been safely
used for more than 47 years. It is the most commonly used OTC cough
suppressant found in nearly half of the OTC cough and cold remedies
purchased by adults in the U.S.

According to the Consumer Healthcare Products Association (CHPA), there
have been industry reports of the abuse of dextromethorphan since 1994.
Schering-Plough HealthCare Products has been actively monitoring reports
concerning misuse of our products that contain dextromethorphan and
takes such reports very seriously.

While Schering-Plough HealthCare Products is committed to maintaining
the availability of Coricidin HBP Cough & Cold for the consumers who
rely on it, we are addressing the issue of dextromethorphan abuse on
several fronts. We have spoken with school officials, parents and
retailers on the issues surrounding the abuse of dextromethorphan, and
are working closely with a nationally-recognized drug abuse expert on
ways to address these issues.

Recognizing the important role parents and educators play in addressing
drug abuse, we are also working closely with industry organizations and
through credible drug education channels to inform parents and educators
on the importance of the proper use of OTC medications. The company
recently provided an unrestricted educational grant to the Partnership
for Drug Free America to support the development of a Web site aimed at
educating families and teens about the dangers of dextromethorphan
abuse. The Web site is currently under development.

Through the CHPA, Schering-Plough HealthCare Products and other
companies formed a task force to address the issue of dextromethorphan
abuse and partnered with the Council on Family Health to provide an
online resource for parents and educators on the importance of the
proper use of over-the-counter medications. To access this online
informational resource, please visit the Council on Family Health Web
site at www.cfhinfo.org. Under What's New on the homepage, click on A
Word to Parents and Educators.

The company also approached the Office of National Drug Control Policy
(ONDCP) to help raise awareness to parents of over-the-counter product
and dextromethorphan abuse among the teenage population. As a result of
bringing the issue to the attention of the ONDCP, an article on
dextromethorphan was developed and posted on the antidrug.com site
serving as a resource for parents and educators. To access this online
educational resource for parents, please visit the Web site at
www.theantidrug.com/advice/articles_dmx.html.

Consumer health is our number one priority. We are committed to
providing safe and effective healthcare solutions for the millions of
Americans who use our products.