Group targets cold medicine

Kids use it to get high; alliance asks stores to deter sales


HOWELL — The Livingston County Community Alliance is asking local pharmacies to put Coricidin Cold and Cough HBP behind their counters to avoid improper use and shoplifting.

“This is a cold medicine kids are using to get high. The dextromethorphan in the drugs gives a hallucinogenic affect if not taken responsibly,” said Daydra Fraley, chairwoman of the alliance, which is a group that focuses on healthy activities and substance abuse prevention for youths in Livingston County.

Abusing the drug can cause effects similar to alcohol, producing carefree clumsiness with a touch of psychedelic effects and, in higher doses, unconsciousness, Fraley said.

Schering-Plough, the drug company that makes Coricidin, supports pharmacies’ efforts to restrict the sale to young people.

Fraley said eight out of 10 county pharmacies she has contacted already had the cold medicine behind the counter and the other two stores are cooperating with the alliance’s request.

“Some of the pharmacies said they already had it behind the counter because of how often the drug gets stolen,” Fraley said. “From my understanding, there are no hard numbers on the statistics because when a child goes to the hospital for overdosing, the hospitals check for alcohol and other substances but not for DXM.”

Rebecca Deras, a county social worker, said the most common products that are being abused are Robitussin and Coricidin Cold and Cough HBP medicine.

“Most of the kids who I talk to who have been experimenting with drugs have tried the cold medicines,” said Deras, who who has an office in the Community Mental Health Building in Howell but works for Washtenaw County Health Services Access that services Livingston County.

Deras finds out from her clients when she conducts adolescence confidential screening for clients who have no insurance or are on Medicaid and need substance abuse treatment.

According to reports, DXM comes in many different forms. The most common are in various over-the-counter cough suppressants including Coricidin, Robitussin, Delsym, Pertussin, Drixoral and Vicks formula 44.

There is a great danger in adolescents taking the medication in high doses especially if there are other active ingredients. For example, a cold medicine with acetaminophen in high doses can be fatal, Fraley said.

Story Here: http://www.detnews.com/2004/livingston/040...c05l-237586.htm

[thomasKMFDM]

There is a great danger in adolescents taking the medication in high doses especially if there are other active ingredients.

At least they got that right.

[libel]

yeah, its pretty appearant wyeth wont suffer too much from the occurance of overdoses and hospital visits due to dxm use...