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03-22-2005, 11:49 PM
Cold medicine can be an easy, but lethal, high
01:37 PM PST on Tuesday, March 22, 2005
From KING 5 Staff Reports
It’s known that cold medications are used to make meth. Now, some over-the-counter cold medications have become one the newest drugs of choice among kids.
When taken in massive doses, the active ingredient, dextramethorphan, can prove deadly.
“I was doing them before school, I popped eight, they'd wear off by like 5th hour, then I'd pop another eight in school,” said Jessica Fedro, referring to over-the-counter Coricidin cold tablets.
“I couldn't live without them, that's how addicted I was,” she said.
Teens call it "skittling" because the pills resemble the popular candy, Skittles. But when taken in massive doses, the active ingredient, dextramethorphan, can prove deadly.
“They can have a seizure, they can become comatose and they can overdose within a matter of minutes,” said pediatric emergency doctor Dr. Charles Nozicka of St. Alexius Medical Center.
That’s what happened to Jessica in February of 2002 after taking 96 pills.
“I dove into the kitchen floor ‘cause I thought it was water, and I don't remember anything after that except waking up in the hospital,” she said.
Nozicka says the number of reported cases are just the tip of the iceberg and there's probably a lot more of it out there then is known.
Resources
Information for parents about cough medicine abuse
Substance abuse specialists say the number of 13- to 19-year-olds abusing cold medicines is on the rise.
“Since 2001, the number of calls involving suspected abuse of Coricidin has increased by about 55 percent,” said Dr. Christina Hantsch, medical director of Illinois Poison Center.
A year ago, 18-year-old Joel Cahoon of Columbus, Ohio, was battling his own Coricidin habit.
“I was killing myself, you know, I didn't even think I was trying to commit suicide but I was,” he said.
“Basically he got out of rehab, completed the program successfully, was home a few months and got in trouble again shoplifting Coricidin,” said Joel’s mother, Linda Cahoon.
Joel is now serving a 45-day sentence for that theft.
Fortunately, Jessica Fedro has beaten her addiction and has this advice for teens who want to experiment with skittling.
“Just don't even touch it, seriously, don't -- just the one time will ruin your life,” she said.
Online at: http://www.king5.com/health/stories/NW_032....1635925b5.html (http://www.king5.com/health/stories/NW_032205HEnbc_coldmedsEL.1635925b5.html)
01:37 PM PST on Tuesday, March 22, 2005
From KING 5 Staff Reports
It’s known that cold medications are used to make meth. Now, some over-the-counter cold medications have become one the newest drugs of choice among kids.
When taken in massive doses, the active ingredient, dextramethorphan, can prove deadly.
“I was doing them before school, I popped eight, they'd wear off by like 5th hour, then I'd pop another eight in school,” said Jessica Fedro, referring to over-the-counter Coricidin cold tablets.
“I couldn't live without them, that's how addicted I was,” she said.
Teens call it "skittling" because the pills resemble the popular candy, Skittles. But when taken in massive doses, the active ingredient, dextramethorphan, can prove deadly.
“They can have a seizure, they can become comatose and they can overdose within a matter of minutes,” said pediatric emergency doctor Dr. Charles Nozicka of St. Alexius Medical Center.
That’s what happened to Jessica in February of 2002 after taking 96 pills.
“I dove into the kitchen floor ‘cause I thought it was water, and I don't remember anything after that except waking up in the hospital,” she said.
Nozicka says the number of reported cases are just the tip of the iceberg and there's probably a lot more of it out there then is known.
Resources
Information for parents about cough medicine abuse
Substance abuse specialists say the number of 13- to 19-year-olds abusing cold medicines is on the rise.
“Since 2001, the number of calls involving suspected abuse of Coricidin has increased by about 55 percent,” said Dr. Christina Hantsch, medical director of Illinois Poison Center.
A year ago, 18-year-old Joel Cahoon of Columbus, Ohio, was battling his own Coricidin habit.
“I was killing myself, you know, I didn't even think I was trying to commit suicide but I was,” he said.
“Basically he got out of rehab, completed the program successfully, was home a few months and got in trouble again shoplifting Coricidin,” said Joel’s mother, Linda Cahoon.
Joel is now serving a 45-day sentence for that theft.
Fortunately, Jessica Fedro has beaten her addiction and has this advice for teens who want to experiment with skittling.
“Just don't even touch it, seriously, don't -- just the one time will ruin your life,” she said.
Online at: http://www.king5.com/health/stories/NW_032....1635925b5.html (http://www.king5.com/health/stories/NW_032205HEnbc_coldmedsEL.1635925b5.html)