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11-10-2006, 01:37 PM
Cold medicine high of choice for area teens, CNT says
By Megan Matteucci
Created 2006-11-10 00:30
Megan Matteucci [1] | Friday, November 10, 2006 at 12:30 am | (see enhanced version) [2]
The Savannah-Chatham Counter Narcotics Team is asking parents and pharmacies to be on the lookout after four high school students overdosed on cough medicine.
Last week, the four Chatham County students were sent to the emergency room after they showed symptoms of an overdose of Coricidin Cough & Cold medicine, said Agent Ron Tyran, CNT's pharmaceutical diversion officer.
None of the overdoses was fatal, but the teenagers did have their stomachs pumped.
"Coricidin is the drug of choice by juveniles because its high content of Dextromethorphan, one of the ingredients used in cough suppression," Tyran said. "Kids are targeting this particular medication because it comes in liquid gel caps, and it was accessible because it's over the counter."
Patients are supposed to take one Coricidin tablet every 12 hours to control cold symptoms.
"In order to reach the necessary high, these kids are taking 12-18 capsules at one time," Tyran said.
The cold tablets are called Skittles on the street because of their bright red color.
Properly used, the drug targets a runny nose, cough, sneezing and sore throat, according to the company's Web site.
Doctors say the drug also can cause nausea, dizziness, abdominal pain, diarrhea, sweating, seizures, confusion, sedation, insomnia, hallucinations and irregular heartbeat.
Police are asking parents to be on the look out for slow, lethargic "zombie-like" behavior as a possible sign of Coricidin use.
They also are asking parents to watch children's activity online.
"Since the education of what drugs to take for the best high is coming off the Internet, we're recommending any parent with children using the Internet install a key-stroke logger program on their computer," Tyran said.
The programs can be downloaded for free and run on their own.
Parents should be on the look out for such key words as cough medicine, Skittles or DXM.
On Thursday, CNT asked all area pharmacies to remove Coricidin from the aisles and place it behind the counter.
Police also are working with school resource officers to teach students about the dangers of the drug.
Police urge concerned parents to call their family physician.
http://savannahnow.com/node/176803/print
By Megan Matteucci
Created 2006-11-10 00:30
Megan Matteucci [1] | Friday, November 10, 2006 at 12:30 am | (see enhanced version) [2]
The Savannah-Chatham Counter Narcotics Team is asking parents and pharmacies to be on the lookout after four high school students overdosed on cough medicine.
Last week, the four Chatham County students were sent to the emergency room after they showed symptoms of an overdose of Coricidin Cough & Cold medicine, said Agent Ron Tyran, CNT's pharmaceutical diversion officer.
None of the overdoses was fatal, but the teenagers did have their stomachs pumped.
"Coricidin is the drug of choice by juveniles because its high content of Dextromethorphan, one of the ingredients used in cough suppression," Tyran said. "Kids are targeting this particular medication because it comes in liquid gel caps, and it was accessible because it's over the counter."
Patients are supposed to take one Coricidin tablet every 12 hours to control cold symptoms.
"In order to reach the necessary high, these kids are taking 12-18 capsules at one time," Tyran said.
The cold tablets are called Skittles on the street because of their bright red color.
Properly used, the drug targets a runny nose, cough, sneezing and sore throat, according to the company's Web site.
Doctors say the drug also can cause nausea, dizziness, abdominal pain, diarrhea, sweating, seizures, confusion, sedation, insomnia, hallucinations and irregular heartbeat.
Police are asking parents to be on the look out for slow, lethargic "zombie-like" behavior as a possible sign of Coricidin use.
They also are asking parents to watch children's activity online.
"Since the education of what drugs to take for the best high is coming off the Internet, we're recommending any parent with children using the Internet install a key-stroke logger program on their computer," Tyran said.
The programs can be downloaded for free and run on their own.
Parents should be on the look out for such key words as cough medicine, Skittles or DXM.
On Thursday, CNT asked all area pharmacies to remove Coricidin from the aisles and place it behind the counter.
Police also are working with school resource officers to teach students about the dangers of the drug.
Police urge concerned parents to call their family physician.
http://savannahnow.com/node/176803/print