drdĒv
04-06-2007, 09:03 AM
April 5, 2007 07:35 PM CDT
In Thursday's Safe Families report we talking about skittling. It's a new name teens use when misusing certain "colorful" over-the-counter drugs. KATC's Kari Hall tells us how parents can stay ahead of this drug trend and what to look for.
Darlene French, the Safe and Drug Free Specialist for Iberia Parish Schools says, "Skittling is actually, it's associated Coricidan right now, but its any pills that have that Skittle type candy look, where kids will take big amounts of it." Coricidan is an antihistamine and decongestant than can be bought at the local pharmacy over the counter.
"There are over 125 different forms of these antihistamine and decongestant. Coricidan are little red, round tablets that look like the candy Skittles."
"Why are they doing that? It's because they have out of body type experiences, LSD type effects. It does of course raise the blood pressure and different physical things," says French.
We were told by Tracy Ritter at the Iberia Medical Center that a student actually had some Palsy type paralysis type effects. So it can be dangerous. "Anything really potentially if you misuse it and kids are sometimes taking eight to twelve when it's like one or two tablets for an adult dose."
So to prevent misuse, don't store prescription medicine in the bathroom cabinet. This is the most visited room in the house. And keep tabs on how much of each prescription you have.
"In all honesty, they are cheap. They're available. They are in your own house. You're not having to go to some street corner to buy something illegal. They don't smell. They are not big in bulk."
Pay attention to any behavioral changes in your teen and take action before its too late.
http://www.katc.com/Global/story.asp?S=6332968
In Thursday's Safe Families report we talking about skittling. It's a new name teens use when misusing certain "colorful" over-the-counter drugs. KATC's Kari Hall tells us how parents can stay ahead of this drug trend and what to look for.
Darlene French, the Safe and Drug Free Specialist for Iberia Parish Schools says, "Skittling is actually, it's associated Coricidan right now, but its any pills that have that Skittle type candy look, where kids will take big amounts of it." Coricidan is an antihistamine and decongestant than can be bought at the local pharmacy over the counter.
"There are over 125 different forms of these antihistamine and decongestant. Coricidan are little red, round tablets that look like the candy Skittles."
"Why are they doing that? It's because they have out of body type experiences, LSD type effects. It does of course raise the blood pressure and different physical things," says French.
We were told by Tracy Ritter at the Iberia Medical Center that a student actually had some Palsy type paralysis type effects. So it can be dangerous. "Anything really potentially if you misuse it and kids are sometimes taking eight to twelve when it's like one or two tablets for an adult dose."
So to prevent misuse, don't store prescription medicine in the bathroom cabinet. This is the most visited room in the house. And keep tabs on how much of each prescription you have.
"In all honesty, they are cheap. They're available. They are in your own house. You're not having to go to some street corner to buy something illegal. They don't smell. They are not big in bulk."
Pay attention to any behavioral changes in your teen and take action before its too late.
http://www.katc.com/Global/story.asp?S=6332968