Assessing Paradoxical Effects of Warning Labels on the Most Abused Over-the-counter (OTC) Drugs: Cough Medicines Containing Dextromethorphan

• In Event: Crime and Place: Crime in and Around Businesses

Abstract

Some stores that implement well-intentioned security measures, can exacerbate a problem of retail theft and shoplifting. For example, stolen-goods markets often seek out stolen store goods that are given added security of property marking. The paradoxical effect is that illicit buyers of these goods, find the products more easily evaluable as genuine merchandise. The current study examines the effect of a national campaign known as “Stop Teen Medicine Abuse” and “Parents: The Anti-Drug.” Large and noticeable labels are placed on many products containing dextromethorphan (DXM). It is widely accepted that teens abuse DXM-based cough medicines more than any other OTC drugs. This study uses a robust dataset of shoplifted products from supermarket stores across the United States. Products having the drug abuse warning labels are recorded and compared across theft rates to determine any patterns in their variation of theft. Potential implications for drug abuse prevention policy strategies are discussed.

Authors

• Brian T Smith, University of New Haven

• Ronald V Clarke, Rutgers University