Teens using cold medicine to get high

02-07-2008, 05:49 PM

Thursday, February 07, 2008
Parents have their hands full trying to keep kids away from alcohol, smoking and drugs. Now there's yet another substance that teens are using to get high legally. They're taking big doses of ordinary cold medicine.

A group of kids who spoke to ABCNEWS said they were using Coricidin HBP Cough and Cold Pills to get stoned. The ingredient that gives kids a high is dextromethorphan, or DXM. It suppresses coughs safely, but in large amounts it produces a chemical imbalance in the brain that allows the kids to get high.
Dextromethorphan is in more than 100 cold medicines, not just Coricidin, but one type of Coricidin has the particular cocktail of ingredients that the kids prefer. This week, the American Association of Poison Control reported teen abuse of these types of over-the-counter cold medications has doubled in the last four years.

Molly, 17, described how taking a large dose of the pills made her feel, "You turn your head and everything went in slow motion. It was like you were in The Matrix or something."
The abuse of Coricidin is so appealing, kids say, because it's easy to get, it's legal, and parents and teachers usually don't have any idea they're taking it.
"As far as drugs go, you don't need to know a dealer, you know. If you can find a Walgreen's or a grocery store, you're set," said Jeff Helgeson, a 20-year-old from Minneapolis. Helgeson says he's been getting high on Coricidin for four years.
Some kids call the habit "skittling," because the pills look like the popular candy Skittles. "It's just like pot, except it's better and it tastes just like candy and your parents won't know if you get high cause your eyes won't be red," said Ashley, 16.

http://abclocal.go.com/wtvg/story?section=...alth&id=5942343

d3tox_ · 02-07-2008, 05:58 PM

tastes like candy!

LOL

ganja · 02-07-2008, 06:14 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by d3tox_@Feb 7 2008, 05:58 PM
tastes like candy!

LOL

Where can I find this magical cough syrup that tastes like candy??! lol

nina · 02-07-2008, 07:09 PM

Quote:

"It's just like pot, except it's better and it tastes just like candy and your parents won't know if you get high cause your eyes won't be red," said Ashley, 16.

Oh...little Ashley...lol *shakes head*

It does bother me that they are taking Coricidin though...

the1welshman · 02-08-2008, 02:02 PM

Quote:

A group of kids who spoke to ABCNEWS said they were using Coricidin HBP Cough and Cold Pills to get stoned.

Anyone who thinks you get "stoned" or "drunk" off of DXM is a complete fucktard... 'nuff said.

Choker · 02-15-2008, 02:45 AM

Sigh @ improper usage of drug related terms. If anything, its all the reports of CCC's that encourage these kids to use CCC's, ffs. LEAVE THE CCCS OUT

**Bhikku** · 02-15-2008, 02:56 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by Choker@Feb 15 2008, 12:45 AM
If anything, its all the reports of CCC's that encourage these kids to use CCC's

1000% Truth.

**Kaiserin** · 02-15-2008, 03:06 AM

Just like pot? Tastes like candy? WTF KIND OF POT ARE THESE KIDS SMOKING?!!?

VagueReality · 02-15-2008, 04:29 PM

Your parents won't know your high? Dex always makes me fucked up, eyes, slurred speech, stumbling. No not noticable =/. And wtf stoned? Why don't reporters get this shit right?

mudpeople · 02-16-2008, 12:01 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by Dave'@Feb 7 2008, 05:49 PM
Parents have their hands full trying to keep kids away from alcohol, smoking and drugs. Now there's yet another substance that teens are using to get high legally. They're taking big doses of ordinary cold medicine.

Getting high, off cold medicine, which, according to this statement is different than drugs. Somehow. Nice, way to educate, way to clearly state what such things are. Nah, not a drug, just cold medicine. But it gets you high!