Although potentially dangerous to your health and social reputation, DXM abuse is technically not illegal. Because it’s a safe and effective cough suppressant, there is currently no legal distinction between medical use and abuse. Cough medicine containing DXM is legally sold throughout the United States. Some states, such as Arizona, California, Louisiana, New York, Virginia, and Washington have made it illegal to sell products containing DXM to customers under 18 years old. Other states, such as Illinois, have made the sale of pure DXM illegal. Additionally, because of the high risk associated with DXM abuse, many major retailers have made their own voluntary efforts to restrict sales to minors.
