Teenagers using cough and cold medicines to get a buzz is nothing new. It began in the 70’s and is on the rise again. Not only are children and teens abusing cough medicines, but they’re learning new ways to get a quick fix and information about getting high on the web is putting many of them at risk of serious consequences.

Getting High On Cough and Cold Medicines

Over-the-counter drugs are often deemed safe since they are available to everyone without any special permission from a doctor. The public generally assumes that there are no risky side effects. This is often true when they are used according to the instructions on the labels. However, if the medicine is taken in amounts larger than the recommended dosage or for a longer period of time, they can become quite dangerous.

Teenagers have been chugging bottles of cough medicine for years to get a quick, legal high. It’s easily accessible and quite cheap for most teenagers. It’s also known as “robotripping” and the hallucinogenic high is the thrill they are looking for. The highs of some medicines are compared to that of marijuana or speed. Like many other drugs, getting high on cold medicine quickly becomes an addiction that is difficult to overcome. Even scarier is that these days the active ingredients are being sold in pure form over the Internet. These have been found available in powders to snort or pills to be swallowed.

Web sites are educating our children/teenagers about how to get high using these active ingredients, and the only way to stop it is for parents to intervene. Parents need to take an active role in educating their child or children early on about the dangers of drug abuse and monitor their behavior for any suspicious changes. Keeping a lock on the medicine cabinet is also something to consider if you’re worried your child may succumb to the temptations of trying this type of drug abuse. The drugs are legal to purchase and easy to find, so parents need to step up and put an end to this dangerous abuse.

Commonly Abused Medicines

There are a variety of medicines that contain the active ingredients many teens are using to get high. A couple of the more common ones are Nyquil, Coricidin, Benadryl and Robitussin. A common active ingredient in these medicines is dextromethorphan, also known as DXM. It is found in more than 80 over-the-counter cold medicines, making it widely available to many youth. When taken in large amounts, this additive will cause hallucinations, something the teenagers are using for a “thrill ride”.

The active ingredient, pseudoephedrine is a common decongestant found in many cold medicines. It is safe to use when taken as directed. However, large amounts can be easily converted to methamphetamine, more commonly known as “speed”. Due to the rise in abuse, many pharmacies and stores no longer have medicines containing pseudoephedrine readily available on the medicine shelves. They are still available, but are only sold in limited supply when the purchaser shows a valid ID at the pharmacy counter or a prescription has been written by a doctor.

Signs of Abuse

There are several signs that may indicate a cold medicine abuse situation, particularly with dextromethorphan. When taken in large amounts, the following can happen:

• Impaired judgment
• Euphoria
• Loss of coordination
• Dizziness
• Nausea and vomiting
• Hot flashes
• Hallucinations
• Seizures
• Coma
• Respiratory depression
• Hyperactivity
• Uncontrolled talking
• Blackouts
• Uncontrollable behavior

If not caught early enough, these overdoses can lead to psychosis, brain damage, seizures and death.

Treatment for Abuse

Once an addition to cold medicines has been identified, the child/teenager will need to go through a rehabilitation program. To find a program in your area, search your yellow pages or find a program online through web sites such as Drug-Rehabs. Getting immediate help may be the difference between saving a life or losing your child to this dangerous abuse.

An overdose occurs when a child receives more than the recommended amount of an active ingredient. Some of the ways overdoses can occur include:

• A child being given two medicines containing the same active ingredient
• Receiving an additional dose
• Receiving medicine intended for an older individual
• Given a dose measured with a non-standardized method (such as a regular eating utensil)

The severity of an overdose depends on the amount consumed along with the concentration of the active ingredient.

Dangers of Overdose

The effects of overdose vary widely with the active ingredients involved. Results range from a mild case with increased irritation to a serious case that can be fatal. Each active ingredient has its own side effects that can be found on our page about active ingredients. Be especially careful with nasal decongestant sprays as just a few drops can be poisonous for a child.

Signs of an Overdose

While a child’s response to medicine will vary greatly, there are some signs you can watch for that may indicate an overdose has occurred. If you see any of the following, evaluate the need for further action immediately by contacting your poison control center or pediatrician:

• Irritability/agitation
• Drowsiness
• Increased heart rate
• Hyperactivity
• Shaking hands
• Irregular heartbeat
• Hallucinations
• Seizures

Get Help Immediately!

If your suspect your child has overdosed on a cold medication, you will need to act quickly to get help. Contact your pediatrician or poison control center for guidance on what actions to take. Either of these will be able to assist you in determining the severity of the overdose. In some cases, you may be referred to the emergency room for treatment. Wherever you turn for help, you will need to have some information available to receive the most accurate assistance and treatment:

• Bring the medicine bottle with you to verify the exact ingredients
• Have your medicine log handy or at least a rough time estimate of when the child was given the medication
• Bring information about your child’s allergies or other health conditions

Acting quickly is key as some conditions caused by an overdose can be life threatening.