A law goes into effect in Westchester County today banning the sale of some cough medicines to anyone under 18.
The ban, known as "Anthony's Law," is a response in part to the death of a Yonkers man killed by a young driver who was "Robotripping" on chemicals in cough syrup.
"I've been waiting for this day to come," said Linda Vieiro, the daughter of crash victim Anthony Vieiro. "It doesn't bring my father back, but maybe his death was not in vain."
Vieiro, a World War II veteran, was killed in March 2007 on Sprain Road in Yonkers after his car was struck by Mohd Shreiqein of Pleasantville, who was driving high on cough-syrup chemicals.
Vieiro's longtime companion, a passenger, was seriously hurt in the crash.
Shreiqein, 21, is serving one to three years in state prison after pleading guilty to criminally negligent homicide, a felony, and third-degree assault, a misdemeanor.
County lawmakers enacted the bill this summer restricting the sale of cough medicines containing dextromethorphan, or DXM, which can cause out-of-body sensations and hallucinations if taken in large quantities in either pill or syrup form. They added penalties of up to $150 to the new law.
Nassau and Suffolk counties have passed similar laws.
"Robotripping" - from the popular brand name Robitussin - happens when users take large amounts of cough medicine to get high. Overdosing on DXM can cause vomiting, seizures, high blood pressure, fainting, coma and death, public health officials warn.
A Westchester survey found that 5 percent to 9 percent of 3,241 middle-schoolers reported having used cough syrup or cold medicine to get high.
Many drugstore chains already restrict sales of DXM medications to people younger than 18.
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