Educate yourself and your friends.

• Read about cough medicine abuse on this site and others.
• Share this information with everyone you know.
• Make sure you’re aware of the signs of cough medicine abuse, so that you know how to spot it.
• Get help if your teen has a substance abuse problem.

Communicate with your kids.

• Teach them that medicine is important for preventing and treating illness, but that it should only be used according to directions.
• Tell them they should never take medicine without telling you first, and that they should never take someone else’s medicine.
• Talk with them about the very serious risks of abusing cough medicine—and that just because something is available without a prescription does not mean it can be abused with no risk.
• Learn how to talk to your kids about drug use in general.

Safeguard your medicines.

• Know what medicines and how much of them are in your home.
• Keep track of your medicines, and tell your friends to keep an eye on their own medicine cabinets, as well.

Monitor your kids online.

• Make sure that your children are never online without your permission.
• Be clear with your kids about your rules on Internet use at home and outside of the home.
• Place your computer in an area of the house where you can easily supervise their Internet activity.
• Ask your children about who they talk to and what activities they do online.
• Use parental filters to block access to questionable sites.
• Build an open and trusting relationship with your kids about their online use.