Posts Tagged cough syrup abuse

The Story of a Teen’s Over-the-Counter Drug Abuse

Posted by Drug Free in Prescription Drug Abuse on October 26th, 2011

A teenager shares her story of OTC drug addiction, specifically with cough syrups, which she hid from her family for the longest time.

cough syrup abuseKristin, now 18, got her first taste of over-the-counter cough medications when she was about 15 or 16 years old. She admits that during those times, she had personal issues that needed to addressed.

Television became her source of information on the effects of cough medications. In the beginning, she took out a bottle from their medicine cabinet and drank all of its content. She felt so drunk after and then she began taking the drug on a regular basis for at least twice a week.

At a point when she was using the drug more often, she had to buy the item herself, and there were times when pharmacies refused to sell the medication to her due to her age. She was still able to get hold of the drug by having older people buy it for her.

Her high school friends did not know anything about her addiction. She found other students who were on the same situation she was in. She made friends with them and they were the ones who introduced other types of drugs and alcohol to her system. By this time, she leveled up to OxyContin and morphine pills.

Her studies suffered and things started to take a bad turn. From being a straight-A student, she was now hardly making it to the cut. Still, she kept everything from her parents.

Her family knew of her addiction when she finally got arrested. She stole something from her teacher and the teacher called the cops. She eventually told her parents she was hooked for years, and they were surprised that they did not know anything about it.

Today, Kristin is under the Lexington Center for Recovery for treatment. Kristin says, “It’s hard, but you gotta do what you gotta do. I wish that I had never started in the first place because when you do, once is never enough. It’s not worth it. You’re just going to end up dying or in jail.”

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FDA Thinking of Restricting Cough Medicines

Posted by Drug Free in Drug Addiction, Prescription Drug Abuse on September 7th, 2010

Cough suppressants are among the medicines that are generally readily available over the counter, but due to the increasing number of people who abuse cough medicine, that might change. A feature by The Associated Press shared that the FDA is looking into possibly placing restrictions on such medicines as Robitussin and NyQuil in an effort to reduce cases of abuse of cough suppressants.

cough syrupOn Tuesday last week, the Food and Drug Administration released a review of dextromethorphan, an ingredient that is commonly found in over the counter cough medicines. It is unfortunately being abused due to its “euphoric” effects. Among the more common groups of people who engage in “robotripping,” the slang used to refer to abuse of cough suppressants, are teenagers.

Consuming dextromethorphan at high doses can lead to an increase in blood pressure, heart rate and fever. Those who abuse cough suppressants also stand to suffer from the side effects of the other ingredients present in these medicines, such as acetaminophen, which, according to the feature, can cause damage to the liver.

The FDA review stated further: “Because of the drug’s perceived safety, ease of availability, and desired psychoactive effects, it is sought after by those seeking to alter their mental state.”

In order to control its abuse, the FDA is now reviewing the methods that are being used to regulate the drug, through the prodding of the Drug Enforcement Agency. By mid-September, the FDA will seek the assistance of a panel of outside experts to see whether or not dextromethorphan should only be available with a prescription.

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Robo-Tripping: Why Parents Should Be Concerned

Posted by Drug Free in Prescription Drug Abuse on July 9th, 2010

We have talked at length about abuse of such illegal substances as cocaine and heroin, as well as of prescription drugs, in previous posts. Most parents are careful and worried about these substances and the potential dangers that they bring. There is one other substance that parents should watch out for, however, and it may be sitting exposed in your medicine cabinet.

cough syrupA feature on CNN warns parents about “robo-tripping” among teenagers – and points out that, no, this is not a sort of dance move. “Robo-tripping” is a slang used to refer to getting high using cough medicine. Abusers take to ingesting large doses of dextromethorphan to achieve that “high”. Dextromethorphan is an ingredient found in over-the-counter cough suppressants.

The website of Partnership for a Drug-Free America features the story of a teenager named Shannon, who shared: “I was looking for something that was easy to find, easy to do…even though I know…that this is not good, that this is wrong.” Dr. Michael Entrup, an anesthesiologist at Rhode Island Hospital, was quoted in the feature: “These drugs are very often sitting in the medicine cabinet at home. What parent would think, ‘My kid is abusing cough syrup‘?”

The American Society for Anesthesiologists shared tips on how to detect dextromethorphan abuse among kids. Parents are encouraged to watch out for the unusual smell of medicine in a child’s breath; the appearance of empty cough medicine bottles – or the disappearance of these medicines altogether; a sudden change in physical appearance, attitude and sleeping habits; and visits made by one’s child to pro-drug websites.

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Cough Syrup Addiction: Signs, Dangers and Treatment

Posted by Drug Free in Drug Addiction, Drug Testing, Prescription Drug Abuse on March 14th, 2010

An abuse of cough syrup that contains codeine and DXM (Dextromethorphan) is dangerous. Codeine, an opiate, and DXM, a psychoactive drug, are two very addictive substances. Cough syrup is a preferred substance to abuse for some because of its wide availability and low cost. Addicts drink these syrups undiluted or mixed with other drugs, juices or sodas.

cough syrupSigns of Cough Syrup Abuse

Cough syrup abuse often has similar effects with marijuana. It is known to produce auditory hallucinations and euphoria. Use of cough syrup causes other undesirable effects like depression, dizziness, high blood pressure, impaired judgement, nausea and panic attacks. Aside from these dangerous side effects, cough syrup also causes poor coordination, constipation and fatigue.

Deadly Risks of Cough Syrup Abuse

There is also a risk of overdosing which is one of the main causes of death of cough syrup addiction. Another risk is when the cough syrup with the ingredient DXM is mixed with other medications or ingredients such as “non-drowsy” antihistamines, SSRI antidepressants and the Yohimbe herb; they can produce a deadly cocktail.

Detection and Treatment

Cough syrup abuse is usually treated with abstinence and counselling. Rehabilitation is always a good option for recovering addicts since it offers a systematized method for recovery. Withdrawal usually includes a number of distasteful symptoms, depending on the extent of the addiction. Cough syrup abuse can also be detected through drug testing.

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What Parents Can Do to Prevent Cough Syrup Abuse

Posted by Drug Free in Drug Abuse Prevention on December 9th, 2009

We have already discussed how cough medicines can be dangerous to kids when taken in amounts larger than medically recommended. Now, we move on to how parents can ensure that their kids are as far away from cough syrup abuse as possible.

cough syrupCheck for code words

Even if your kids don’t try to hide it, if you don’t understand the language used by those abusing cough medicines, you will not be able to detect cough syrup abuse in your child. Remember the terms robo-tripping, robotard, skittling, skittles, tussing, red devils, velvet, triple C, and CCC, as these are some of the names commonly used to refer to cough and cold medication abuse.

Conduct a regular medicine cabinet inventory

It is important to keep a checklist of the medicines available at home, and be aware of who uses them and how often. Check medicines that contain dextromethorphan or DXM as an the active ingredient, and do not stock plenty of them in your medicine cabinet. You may also keep them in less accessible places, like in a cabinet inside your own bedroom.

Be vigilant of physical signs of cough syrup abuse

Cough syrups will leave a medicinal odor, so stay close to your kids and try to notice any unusual odor. Also observe for slurry speech, constant drowsiness, or unsteady walking. Be careful when your child frequently complains of cough or colds but does not really show the symptoms. You can also check for empty bottles in his or her bag, garbage can, or room.

Stay on top of the situation. Discuss the dangers of drug abuse with your kids, and ensure that any sign of abuse will not pass you unnoticed.

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Medicine Cabinet at Home May Be Source of Drug Abuse

Posted by Drug Free in Drug Addiction on December 8th, 2009

Many parents have become more aware of the dangers of recreational drugs that kids have been exposed to nowadays, but a good number don’t realize that the danger is not just found outside of the home. There is a dangerous substance that parents may unknowingly supply to their kids — the cough syrup or tablets sitting innocently inside the medicine cabinet.

cough syrupCough syrups and pills are conveniently available in drug stores, supermarkets and most of the time, also at home. It is used to treat coughing, either to loosen the mucus from the respiratory tract or to suppress the act of coughing itself. While it is actually a substance of significant use, it can also be dangerous when ingested in large amounts.

Dextromethorphan (DXM or DM) is an active ingredient in many cough and cold medicines.  The average dose contains about 15 to 30 milligrams. When taken at doses greater than medically recommended, DXM can be classified as a psychedelic substance. The intake of DXM in large amounts can result to nausea, irregular heartbeat, blurred vision and slurred speech, hallucinations, loss of consciousness, or even death.

Manufacturers have already made the taste of their cough syrups unpleasant to discourage recreational use. While this is a good move, there are still other options kids can take. Kids don’t have to drink a bottle of cough syrup to feel the effects of DXM. Also available are pills with far more potent doses of DXM.

Dextromethorphan also becomes particularly more dangerous when taken with other drugs.

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