The most dangerous supplier of drugs to your child might not be lurking on the street corner; it could be right in your own home or on the shelves of the local pharmacy.

Cough and cold medicine abuse
According to a study by the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration, more than 3.1 million young people between the ages of 12 to 25 have used over-the-counter cough and cold medicine to get high. The level of abuse of these drugs in this age group is comparable to levels of use of LSD, methamphetamine and the drug called “ecstasy.”

The ingredient that provides the buzz
The active ingredient in more than 140 OTC products is the cough suppressant dextromethorphan, or DXM. When used properly, it can relieve the cough that accompanies a cold; when abused by teens looking for a cheap high, it can be addictive –- and deadly.

Effects of cough and cold medicine abuse
Taking DXM in large quantities can cause hallucinations, loss of motor control, 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, loss of consciousness, seizures, brain damage, and even death.

Protected but still accessible
DXM, which can be found in tablets, capsules, gel caps, lozenges, and syrups, are easy to find and affordable. Nationwide, thousands of overdoses have been reported by emergency room doctors.

While most stores now put products with DXM behind the counter and limit the amount one person can purchase, young people find a way around the restrictions. The Internet provides unlimited access to the drugs, and there are even websites that provide dosing calculators that specify how much is needed to get high.

How to protect your child from OTC medicine abuse
To prevent your child from abusing over-the-counter medicines:
 

• Talk to your child about the dangers of OTC medicine abuse. Explain that even innocent looking cough or cold medicines can be as dangerous –- and as deadly –- as the stuff being sold by drug dealers.
• Lock your medicine cabinet, or keep medicines with DXM in a less accessible place.
• Avoid stockpiling the medicines. Keep just enough in the house to help you through the duration of a cold.
• Keep an eye out for signs of abuse in your teen’s room, such as boxes or bottles of cough medicines; be aware of non-traditional looking medicines such as unusual pills or powders, as DXM is often sold on the Internet in various shapes, colors and forms.
• Be on the lookout for the physical signs of DXM abuse in your child, such as flushed face, confusion, slurred speech, and lethargy.
• Monitor your child’s Internet usage. Be on the lookout for suspicious websites and emails that seem to be promoting the abuse of DXM.

Source: Children's Hospital of Philadelphia, www.chop.edu produced here for general information purpose only. Please consult your health care provider for more information.