Some Cough Medicines Off-limits in NJ?

The New Jersey Legislature may restrict sales of a widely used cough suppressant.

Dextromethorphan (dex-TRO-meth-or-fan) or DM is an active ingredient in 100 over-the-counter medicines like NyQuil, Robitussin and Dimetapp.

But it's also used recreationally as a hallucinogen.

Lawmakers on the Assembly Law and Public Safety Committee unanimously advanced legislation banning the sale of products containing DM to anyone under age 18 and requiring retailers to keep medicines with DM beyond the reach of consumers.

Fines would be $250 for the first offense, $500 for the second offense and $1,000 thereafter.

The vote was 9-0.

Similar legislation stalled after it was proposed in 2009.

A federal panel of medical experts recommended last year that medicines containing DM continue to be sold over-the-counter despite increased abuse among teenagers.

(Copyright 2011 by The Associated Press.  All Rights Reserved.)