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02-12-2007, 02:49 PM
By JIM LANGHAM
If you have children or teenagers in your home, and there is cold medicine around, it's a good thing to monitor the use of those drugs, noted Kelly Sickafoose, in her state consultant report at January's Substance Abuse Awareness Council (SAAC) meeting. Sickafoose reported that information from the National Drug Intelligence Center indicates a rapid increase in the use of Coricidin HPB Cough and Cold medicine and Robitussin cough syrup. The medicines and similar medications contain an ingredient known as dextromethorphan, or DXM, noted Sickafoose. Sickafoose referred council members to information that indicates such side-effects as hallucinations, out-of-body experiences, and, in extreme cases, even death, in overdoses of the drug. "Kids can go on Web sites and determine how much of the drug they need to give them what they're looking for. They can compute the amount to ingest, according to their body weight," explained Sickafoose. She noted that recent figures indicate that between five and 10 percent of sixth graders in the country have already experimented with the drug. Abuse appears to be most common among 15- and 16-year-olds. The number of 12 and 13-year-olds using the drug exceeds the number of 18-year-olds, indicating that it is just as popular in middle schools as it is high schools. "DXM abuse, though not a new phenomenon, has developed into a disturbing new trend which involves the sale of pure DXM in powdered form," notes information released from the Food and Drug Administration through the publication, "Medical News Today." "This pure DXM is often encapsulated by the 'dealer' and offered for street use." The drug is available over the counter and replaces codeine as the most widely used cough suppressant in the United States. It is available in capsule, liquid, liquid gelatin capsules, lozenges and other table forms. Used properly, it is considered to be a generally safe and effective cough suppressant. "About two thirds of abusers take Coricidin D cough and cold tablets, which is also referred to as 'CCC'," said Sickafoose. Sickafoose explained that teens also participate in a process known as, "robotripping," which comes from the abuse of Robitussin, the second most abused cold medicine. Those wishing further information can access the National Drug Intelligence Center web site at usdoj.gov/ndic. In other items, SAAC Executive Director Barry Humble reported that the council has launched a media blitz focused on reaching out to all three county school systems. In addition to billboard coverage, student representatives are passing out posters in basketball games at Bellmont, Adams Central and South Adams. Humble said North Adams Partners (parents initiative involvement) has been in existence for over a year; South Adams started four weeks ago, and Adams Central's first meeting was held January 25. Katie Myers, who is in charge of tobacco and drug cessation classes in local businesses, reported that 15 community participants from local industries began their classes in early January. She noted that one of the largest classes to date just finished. She added that several new businesses have started participation in the classes.
http://www.decaturdailydemocrat.com/index....=2951&Itemid=27 (http://www.decaturdailydemocrat.com/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=2951&Itemid=27)
If you have children or teenagers in your home, and there is cold medicine around, it's a good thing to monitor the use of those drugs, noted Kelly Sickafoose, in her state consultant report at January's Substance Abuse Awareness Council (SAAC) meeting. Sickafoose reported that information from the National Drug Intelligence Center indicates a rapid increase in the use of Coricidin HPB Cough and Cold medicine and Robitussin cough syrup. The medicines and similar medications contain an ingredient known as dextromethorphan, or DXM, noted Sickafoose. Sickafoose referred council members to information that indicates such side-effects as hallucinations, out-of-body experiences, and, in extreme cases, even death, in overdoses of the drug. "Kids can go on Web sites and determine how much of the drug they need to give them what they're looking for. They can compute the amount to ingest, according to their body weight," explained Sickafoose. She noted that recent figures indicate that between five and 10 percent of sixth graders in the country have already experimented with the drug. Abuse appears to be most common among 15- and 16-year-olds. The number of 12 and 13-year-olds using the drug exceeds the number of 18-year-olds, indicating that it is just as popular in middle schools as it is high schools. "DXM abuse, though not a new phenomenon, has developed into a disturbing new trend which involves the sale of pure DXM in powdered form," notes information released from the Food and Drug Administration through the publication, "Medical News Today." "This pure DXM is often encapsulated by the 'dealer' and offered for street use." The drug is available over the counter and replaces codeine as the most widely used cough suppressant in the United States. It is available in capsule, liquid, liquid gelatin capsules, lozenges and other table forms. Used properly, it is considered to be a generally safe and effective cough suppressant. "About two thirds of abusers take Coricidin D cough and cold tablets, which is also referred to as 'CCC'," said Sickafoose. Sickafoose explained that teens also participate in a process known as, "robotripping," which comes from the abuse of Robitussin, the second most abused cold medicine. Those wishing further information can access the National Drug Intelligence Center web site at usdoj.gov/ndic. In other items, SAAC Executive Director Barry Humble reported that the council has launched a media blitz focused on reaching out to all three county school systems. In addition to billboard coverage, student representatives are passing out posters in basketball games at Bellmont, Adams Central and South Adams. Humble said North Adams Partners (parents initiative involvement) has been in existence for over a year; South Adams started four weeks ago, and Adams Central's first meeting was held January 25. Katie Myers, who is in charge of tobacco and drug cessation classes in local businesses, reported that 15 community participants from local industries began their classes in early January. She noted that one of the largest classes to date just finished. She added that several new businesses have started participation in the classes.
http://www.decaturdailydemocrat.com/index....=2951&Itemid=27 (http://www.decaturdailydemocrat.com/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=2951&Itemid=27)