Parenting : Cough and Cold drugs Abuse

Cough and Cold drugs Abuse

Chugging cough drugs for a moment high actually is not a replacement observe for teens, who have raided the medication cupboard for a fast, cheap, and legal high for many years. however sadly, this dangerous, doubtless deadly observe is on the increase.

So it is important for fogeys to know the risks and savvy to stop their youngsters from intentionally overdosing on cough and cold drugs.

Why Do youngsters Abuse Cough and Cold Remedies?
Before the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) replaced the narcotic codeine with dextromethorphan as an over-the-counter (OTC) cough suppressant within the Nineteen Seventies, teens were merely guzzling down cough syrup for a fast buzz.

Over the years, teens discovered that they still might get high by taking giant doses of any OTC drugs containing dextromethorphan (also known as DXM).


Dextromethorphan-containing product — tablets, capsules, gel caps, lozenges, and syrups — are labeled DM, cough suppressant, or Tuss (or contain "tuss" within the title).

Medicines containing dextromethorphan are straightforward to search out, cheap for cash-strapped teens, and perfectly legal. obtaining access to the harmful drug is usually as straightforward as walking into the native drugstore with some greenbacks or raiding the family drugs cupboard. and since it's found in over-the-counter medicines, several teens naively assume that DXM cannot be dangerous.
Then and currently
DXM abuse is on the increase, in line with recent studies, and straightforward access to OTC medications in stores and over the net might be contributing to the rise.

The major distinction between current abuse of cough and cold medicines which in years past is that teens currently use the net to not solely get DXM in pure powder type, however to be told a way to abuse it. as a result of drinking giant volumes of cough syrup causes vomiting, the drug is being extracted from cough syrups and sold on the net in an exceedingly pill which will be swallowed or a powder which will be snorted. on-line dosing calculators even teach abusers what proportion they're going to got to take for his or her weight to induce high.

One way teens get their DXM fixes is by taking "Triple-C" — Coricidin HBP Cough and Cold — that contains thirty mg of DXM in very little red tablets. Users taking giant volumes of Triple-C run extra health risks as a result of it contains an antihistamine additionally.

The list of alternative ingredients — decongestants, expectorants, and pain relievers — contained in alternative Coricidin product and OTC cough and cold preparations compound the risks related to DXM and will result in a significant drug overdose.

Besides Triple-C, alternative street names for DXM include: Candy, C-C-C, Dex, DM, Drex, Red Devils, Robo, Rojo, Skittles, Tussin, Velvet, and Vitamin D. Users are generally known as "syrup heads" and therefore the act of abusing DXM is usually known as "dexing," "robotripping," or "robodosing" (because users chug Robitussin or another cough syrup to realize their desired high).

What Happens When Teens Abuse DXM?
Although DXM may be safely taken in 15- to 30-milligram doses to suppress a cough, abusers tend to consume the maximum amount as 360 milligrams or a lot of. Taking mass quantities of product containing DXM will cause hallucinations, loss of motor management, and "out-of-body" (disassociative) sensations.

Other doable facet effects of DXM abuse include: confusion, impaired judgment, blurred vision, dizziness, paranoia, excessive sweating, slurred speech, nausea, vomiting, abdominal pain, irregular heartbeat, high blood pressure, headache, lethargy, numbness of fingers and toes, facial redness, dry and itchy skin, loss of consciousness, seizures, brain injury, and even death.

When consumed in giant quantities, DXM can even cause hyperthermia, or high fever. this can be a true concern for teens who take DXM whereas in an exceedingly hot atmosphere or whereas exerting themselves at a rave or dance club, where DXM is usually sold and materialized as similar-looking medicine like PCP. and therefore the state of affairs becomes even a lot of dangerous if these substances are used with alcohol or another drug.
Being on the Lookout
You can facilitate forestall your teen from abusing over-the-counter medicines. Here's how:

Lock your drugs cupboard or keep those OTC medicines that might doubtless be abused in an exceedingly less accessible place.
Avoid stockpiling OTC medicines. Having too several at your teen's disposal might build abusing them a lot of tempting.
Keep track of what proportion is in every bottle or container in your drugs cupboard.
Keep a watch out not just for traditional-looking cough and cold remedies in your teen's area, however additionally strange-looking tablets (DXM is usually sold on the net and on the road in its pure type in numerous shapes and colors).
Watch out for the doable warning signs of DXM abuse listed on top of.
Monitor your child's net usage. Be on the lookout for suspicious websites and emails that appear to be promoting the abuse of DXM or alternative medicine, each legal and illegal.
Above all, consult with your youngsters regarding drug abuse and make a case for that even if taking uncountable a cough or cold drugs appears harmless, it's not. Even when it comes from within the family drugs cupboard or the corner drugstore, when taken in giant amounts DXM could be a drug which will be simply as deadly as any sold on a seedy street corner. And notwithstanding you do not suppose your teens do it, chances are high that they understand youngsters who are.