Teens Abuse of Cough Medicine on the Rise

Gulping cough syrup for an instant "buzz" certainly is not a new thing for adolescents that have raided the medicine cabinet for a quick, cheap, and legal high. But unfortunately, this dangerous and potentially deadly practice is on the rise.

So it's important for moms and dads to understand the risks and know how to prevent their children from intentionally overdosing on cough and cold medicine.

Before the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) replaced the narcotic codeine with DXM as an over-the-counter (OTC) cough suppressant in the 1970s, adolescents were simply guzzling down cough syrup for a quick buzz.

Over the years, adolescents discovered that they still could get high by taking large doses of any OTC medicine containing DEXTROMETHORPHAN (also called DXM).

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

Medicines containing DXM are easy to find, affordable for cash-strapped adolescents, and perfectly legal. Getting access to the dangerous drug is often as easy as walking into the local drugstore with a few dollars or raiding the family medicine cabinet. And because it's found in over-the-counter medicines, many adolescents naively assume that DEXTROMETHORPHAN can't be dangerous.

DEXTROMETHORPHAN abuse is on the rise, according to recent studies, and easy access to OTC medications in stores and over the Internet could be contributing to the increase.

The major difference between current abuse of cough and cold medicines and that in years past is that adolescents now use the Internet to not only buy DEXTROMETHORPHAN in pure powder form, but to learn how to abuse it. Because drinking large volumes of cough syrup causes vomiting, the drug is being extracted from cough syrups and sold on the Internet in a tablet that can be swallowed or a powder that can be snorted. Online dosing calculators even teach abusers how much they'll need to take for their weight to get high.

One way adolescents get their DEXTROMETHORPHAN fixes is by taking "Triple-C" — Coricidin HBP Cough and Cold — which contains 30 mg of DEXTROMETHORPHAN in little red tablets. Users taking large volumes of Triple-C run additional health risks because it contains an antihistamine as well.

The list of other ingredients — decongestants, expectorants, and pain relievers — contained in other Coricidin products and OTC cough and cold preparations compound the risks associated with DEXTROMETHORPHAN and could lead to a serious drug overdose.

Besides Triple-C, other street names for DEXTROMETHORPHAN include: Candy, C-C-C, DXM, DM, Drex, Red Devils, Robo, Rojo, Skittles, Tussin, Velvet, and Vitamin D. Users are sometimes called "syrup heads" and the act of abusing DEXTROMETHORPHAN is often called "DXMing," "robotripping," or "robodosing" (because users chug Robitussin or another cough syrup to achieve their desired high).

Although DEXTROMETHORPHAN can be safely taken in 15- to 30-milligram doses to suppress a cough, abusers tend to consume as much as 360 milligrams or more. Taking mass quantities of products containing DEXTROMETHORPHAN can cause hallucinations, loss of motor control, and "out-of-body" (disassociative) sensations.

Other possible side effects of DEXTROMETHORPHAN 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 damage, and even death.

When consumed in large quantities, DEXTROMETHORPHAN can also cause hyperthermia, or high fever. This is a real concern for adolescents who take DEXTROMETHORPHAN while in a hot environment or while exerting themselves at a rave or dance club, where DEXTROMETHORPHAN is often sold and passed off as similar-looking drugs like PCP. And the situation becomes even more dangerous if these substances are used with alcohol or another drug.

You can help prevent your adolescent from abusing over-the-counter medicines. Here's how:

• Avoid stockpiling OTC medicines. Having too many at your adolescent's disposal could make abusing them more tempting.

• Keep an eye out not only for traditional-looking cough and cold remedies in your adolescent's room, but also strange-looking tablets (DEXTROMETHORPHAN is often sold on the Internet and on the street in its pure form in various shapes and colors).

• Keep track of how much is in each bottle or container in your medicine cabinet.

• Lock your medicine cabinet or keep those OTC medicines that could potentially be abused in a less accessible place.

• Monitor your youngster's Internet usage. Be on the lookout for suspicious websites and emails that seem to be promoting the abuse of DEXTROMETHORPHAN or other drugs, both legal and illegal.

• Watch out for the possible warning signs of DEXTROMETHORPHAN abuse listed above.

Above all, talk to your children about drug abuse and explain that even though taking lots of a cough or cold medicine seems harmless, it's not. Even when it comes from inside the family medicine cabinet or the corner drugstore, when taken in large amounts DEXTROMETHORPHAN is a drug that can be just as deadly as any sold on a seedy street corner. And even if you don't think your adolescents are doing it, chances are they know children who are.

==> My Out-of-Control Teen: Help for Parents

Tips to Break the Cycle of Aggressive Parenting

"How can I make sure my children understand the seriousness of certain situations (e.g., using drugs, talking to strangers on the internet, etc.) without yelling and coming on so strong and aggressive that I damage their self-esteem."

When your youngster's safety is at risk — whether he's run into the street, reached for an open flame, or gotten dangerously close to a pool — yelling, screaming, or crying out is a perfectly normal – and appropriate – response. At that moment, you would do anything possible to get your youngster's attention and get him out of harm's way.

After a parent’s “screaming-yelling” episode, it's natural for children to get upset — and for you to want to apologize. But the truth is this: your children are getting upset in response to the fear and urgency in your voice, not because you've been "too strict." At times like these, you should comfort them, but without apologizing. Give your youngster a hug and say something like, "I know you're upset. But what you did was dangerous, and I was scared that you were going to get hurt. You must never do that again." Disciplining children after an event like this is usually not necessary, since they've probably learned their lesson.

On the other hand, there are times when being too strict — like yelling regularly for minor offences — can backfire. Children can become immune to your exaggerated reactions and fail to take them seriously. If you feel yourself getting into this habit, take a deep breath before responding to your youngster's behavior and ask yourself, "Am I about to over-respond?" If so, walk away for a few minutes and come back when you've calmed down.

Researchers are studying how harsh parenting can impact the emotional development of a youngster. It is believed that harsh parenting methods may lead to anxiety disorders such as social phobia, separation anxiety and panic attacks. We know that common practices such as spanking or excessive punishment do not instill a strong discipline. Quite the opposite, they have a lasting psychological impact on kids.

Many studies have suggested that a parent’s aggression can affect their kid’s own social problem-solving proficiency, leading them to use aggression as a solution to disagreements that arise with their siblings and peers. This reliance on aggression can have potential long-term effects, including the development of antisocial behavior and juvenile delinquency.

Consider these facts, all backed-up by research:

• Constant yelling and screaming erodes trust between a parent and a child and increases the risk of child abuse – because it doesn’t decrease bad behavior, parent aggression may increase in an attempt to solve the problem.
• Kids who are screamed at regularly are more likely to cheat or lie, act up at school and bully other kids. They also do less well academically.
• Kids whose parents use aggression to control antisocial behavior show more antisocial behavior themselves over time.
• The more a child is slapped, the more likely it is that they’ll grow up to slap their children, spouse or friends.
• Yelling and screaming increases the probability of your child assaulting you in retaliation as they grow older.

Being an aggressive parent will only be a short term solution to controlling your kids, and it will lead to long term problems for them as they grow up trying to function in the adult world. Aggressive moms and dads can cause their youngster to develop one of two different personality types: being the victim because it was their assigned role in the family, or becoming abusive because it was role modeled for them.

The alternative to an aggressive parenting style is the “assertive style.” These moms and dads tend to see good behavior from their kids due to setting clear expectations as well as direct explanations of those expectations and they do so without the use of intimidation or threats. These parents listen to their kids, but do not allow themselves to be talked out of what they feel is right. They do not blur the lines between who the parent is and who the youngster is, who is actually in charge is never called into question, and the lack of aggressiveness does not contribute to the youngster being unsure of who the senior family member is.

Most often, when this parenting style is used, it tends to produce kids who:

1. are able to comply with expectations and respect their parents due to feeling listened to and respected by them as opposed to fearing them
2. are better prepared to give and receive love through genuine and reciprocating ways during their adult lives
3. learn to listen to their parents as well as be able to actively listen to directives while waiting for the next opportunity to engage

There’s no getting away from the fact that no matter what you say to a youngster, the model of behavior you display to them will be the most potent influence on their development. “Do as I say, not as I do” has never worked and will never work. Before a mother or father can place the expectation on their youngster of what they want them to “be” – they first have to “be” it!

We, as parents, are role models whether we like it or not. To behave boorishly, antisocially or abusively in front of kids does more harm than most moms and dads realize. It’s destructive, it’s detrimental, and it’s bad parenting. Talk is cheap, and we get what we give in this world.

Follow these tips to break the cycle of aggressive parenting:

1. Get their input when it comes to the rules— When you’re working out your house rules, involve your children in deciding what they should be and what the consequences are for breaking them. This will give them a sense of control and empowerment and help them get into the habit of listening to their conscience and managing their own behavior.

2. Let practice make perfect— Don’t always jump-in to solve disputes that arise between your youngster and his siblings or friends, because whatever you say, someone is likely to resent your decision. Put the problem to your kid in plain terms and let him work out a peaceful resolution: “OK, so both you and Jack want to use the computer. How can we sort this out in a fair way so you each get to use it?” In this way you’re guiding your kid towards negotiating a compromise without laying down the law yourself.

3. Model patience— Let your youngster see you listening to other people’s problems, empathizing with their feelings and co-operating with them to find a solution to any differences of opinion.

4. Set age-appropriate limits— Think about what your kid is capable of according to his age and developmental stage. Yes, a preschooler is old enough to listen when you tell him not to touch something dangerous – but a toddler isn’t. Where younger children are concerned, adequate childproofing can remove temptation and do away with the need to constantly discipline them for touching things they shouldn’t.

5. Teach conflict resolution skills— Show your youngster how listening, verbalizing his/her needs and feelings, accepting differences and negotiating agreements can stop a situation from descending into conflict and aggression.

==> Parenting Children and Teens with Oppositional Defiant Disorder