Teens taking over the counter drugs for easy high

[C20H25N3O]

Teens taking over the counter drugs for easy high
[Story]

Reported by Katie LaGrone
Posted on: Tuesday, May 13, 2008



LEE COUNTY: Four Riverdale students were taken to the hospital Monday as a precautionary measure after they allegedly took an over the counter medication. Over the counter drugs are becoming more popular – and dangerous – among high school students.

The Lee County School District confirmed the students took some sort of over the counter medication.

"The appeal is that it's not street drugs. The misconception is because it's not street drugs, it's safe," said Keral Kronseder of the Lee County Coalition for a Drug-Free Southwest Florida.

A product intended to treat your child’s runny nose has parents scrambling to the hospital.

"Kids can get it at home and they can legally buy it at drug stores," said Kronseder.

Hitting cough syrup and popping cold pills is nothing new, but now kids are turning to the internet. That’s where many have found out about Dextromethorphan, commonly known as DXM.

Dextromethorphan is found in more than a hundred different over the counter products. When taken in high doses, it causes hallucinations.

It's a cheap fix that’s easy to buy and could be sitting in your medicine cabinet.

"Most parents when they think about drugs. Think marijuana, alcohol, club drugs. They don't think about the misuse of over the counter medication," said Kronseder.

We sat down with some students at Port Charlotte High School to find out what they're hearing in the hallways.

"Some people will just take random pills or bowls of pills or whatever they can find in their house," said Christopher.

They say the crowds who do it keep it quiet.

"They know who they don't want to know and who they don't care who they tell," said Christopher.

Lee County Coalition for a Drug-Free Southwest Florida says all parents can really do is talk to their kids about the dangers of DXM.

The school district can't comment on the condition of the Riverdale students, but do say it wasn’t an overdose.

[The JoKer]

It's not easy you've gotta chug syrup !! :nerd_smile: