Do You Know what Skittling Is? How About Tussing? Chances Are, One In Every 10 Teenagers Does.
Recent research shows that while parents are aware of warnings against the dangers of illicit street drugs, both prescription medicine and over-the-counter (OTC) cough preparations are often overlooked as potential threats. While an estimated one in five teens have abused prescription drugs, an estimated one in 10 youths or 2.4 million young people have intentionally abused cough medicines to get high. According to data collected by the Partnership for a Drug-Free America, this suggests that the deliberate abuse of medicines—both prescription and over-the-counter—appears to be an entrenched behavior. Further underscoring this trend, recent data collected by the National Institute on Drug Abuse for its “Monitoring the Future” study estimates the intentional abuse of cough medicine among eighth, tenth, and twelfth graders is roughly at four percent, five percent, and seven percent, respectively—on par with some illicit drugs.
Risks of OTC Cough Medicine Abuse
At recommended doses, OTC cough medicines have little or no physical or psychological side effects. When abused, medicines containing dextromethorphan are taken in extreme excess—sometimes 25–50 times the recommended doses. Large amounts can produce hallucinations and other effects similar to the high experienced with ecstasy. DXM abusers experience mild distortions of color and sound, strong visual hallucinations, “out-of-body” sensations, confusion, slurred speech, and the loss of motor control.
Other serious side effects include:
- Delusions
- Panic attacks
- Memory problems
- Blurred vision
- Stomach pain, nausea, and vomiting
- High blood pressure and rapid heart beat
- Numbness of fingers and toes
- Drowsiness and dizziness
- Fever and headaches
- Rashes and itchy skin
- Loss of consciousness
Side effects can be worsened if the dextromethorphan-containing cough medicine being abused also contains other ingredients to treat more than just coughs. Cough medicine also is sometimes abused in combination with other medications, alcohol, and illegal drugs, which can increase the dangerous side effects.
Know the Signs of Cough Medicine Abuse
Signs that a child could be abusing OTC cough medicines or other drugs include:
- Changes in friends, physical appearance, and hygiene.
- Changes in eating or sleeping patterns.
- Purchase or consumption of large amounts of cough medicine when not ill.
- Missing or unaccounted for medicines from the medicine cabinet.
- Unexplained disappearance of household money.
- Visits to pro-drug web sites.
- Empty medicine bottles are stashed away in a person’s room, bathroom or personal belongings such as a backpack or locker.
- Internet orders (for example, note the arrival of unexpected packages, payments by credit card or PayPal account.)
What Every Parent Needs to Know about Cough Medicine Abuse
Partnership for a Drug-Free America and Consumer Healthcare Products Association:
www.chpa-info.org/pubs
