Cough and Cold Medicines Used to Get HighCough and Cold Medicines Used to Get High It has recently been reported that teens and young adults are using cold and cough medicines to get high. A federal report warned that as many as 3.1 million teens and adults between the ages of 12 and 25 are abusing the over-the-counter cold and cough medicines during 2006. The active ingredient in the medicines that is being singled out is dextromethorphan (DXM). This is a drug that has been approved by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) in appropriate dosages for alleviating the symptoms experienced during a cold. Individuals are getting high while using high dosages of the drugs containing dextromethorphan. A survey revealed that individuals who said they abused cough and cold medicines to get high used NyQuil, Coricidin and Robitussin medications among others. The cough and cold pharmaceudical industry is big in the U.S., at an estimated 95 million packages being sold each year at a retail price of some $311 million, according to the Consumer Health Products Association. Parents should watch out for physical signs of possible abuse of these medications such as vomiting, abdominal pain and a lack of physical coordination. Teens and other youth should be warned about the dangers of abusing medications. Those abusing these drugs may be using cough and cold preparations found in the bathroom medicine cabinet or they may be purchasing them from local drug stores as over-the-counter cold and cough medicines are easy to purchase. Recent mandates have made certain cough and cold medicines only available at the pharmacy where ID and registration is required before purchasing certain products. The reported abuse is highest among young white individuals and has been compared to the abuse of drugs such as LSD, methamphetamine or the drug ecstasy.
There are approximately 140 cough and cold medicines sold throughout the U.S. that are available with or without a prescription. At the recommended dosages they are considered safe to use, it is when they are taken at a higher dosage than recommended that they then can produce, "out-of-body" experiences such as those caused by hallucinogens such as the drugs PCP and ketamine (Special K). When overdosing on DXM individuals can vomit, have violent muscle spasms, experience delirium, irregular heartbeat and death. All children, teens and young adults need to be warned about the serious side effects that can be experienced if they choose to abuse drugs. The risk of death is not worth the temporary high obtained from abusing cough and cold medicines.
Parents not only need to warn their children, they need to monitor the medicines in their homes and monitor the purchase of medicines by their kids. The drug dextromethorphan can cause the following side effects when used properly: dizziness, lightheadedness, drowsiness, nervousness, restlessness, an upset stomach, vomiting, and also stomach pain. Serious symptoms include high fever, mood changes, slurred speech, persistent headache, difficult breathing and rash. The following are some other known brand names for dextromethorphan: * Benylin Adult Formula Cough Suppressant * Benylin Pediatric Cough Suppressant * Delsym * Hold DM * Pertussin DM Extra Strength * Robitussin CoughGels * Robitussin Honey Cough Suppressant * Robitussin Maximum Strength Cough Suppressant * Robitussin Pediatric Cough Suppressant * Simply Cough * Sucrets 8 Hour Cough Suppressant * Triaminic Cough Softchews * Vicks 44 Cough Relief |
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