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04-17-2007, 07:50 AM
Discussion on cold medicine abuse follows 3 overdoses
Posted by the Asbury Park Press on 04/17/07
WARETOWN — The head of the local Municipal Alliance knew that over-the-counter drug abuse happens, but when three local teenagers were rushed to the hospital last week after overdosing, it surprised her.
"It's the first one that hits home," said Jeanne Broadbent, head of the alliance, which today is sponsoring a parental information session on over-the-counter drug abuse in response to the incident.
Three teens were determined to have consumed large quantities of over-the-counter cough medicine in an attempt to get high after a 15-year-old girl was found unconscious by her father last Monday around 5:30 p.m. in a home in the Pebble Beach section of the township.
The girl and two other teens, an 18-year-old man and a 15-year-old boy, had taken the drugs together but split up after that and were found at different locations in town, said Patrolman Matt Azzarone, DARE officer and school resource officer for the Waretown police.
All the teens were taken to Southern Ocean County Hospital in Manahawkin. The girl was in critical condition last week. Police said they did not know her current condition.
Police did not give information on the conditions of other two, nor would they say whether the teens were still in the hospital. It was unclear whether charges would be filed.
The teens, whom police declined to identify, were believed to have taken between 16 and 48 pills each of Coricidin Cold and Cough medicine, Azzarone said. The normal dose is two pills.
Azzarone said the DARE program does not address specific over-the-counter drugs that can be abused to discourage teens from rummaging their medicine cabinets for drugs to use. But Azzarone said the program does talk about how abusing over-the-counter and prescription drugs is just as bad as illegal drugs.
"There's still a lethal amount. If they take it in large quantities, they can potentially put themselves in a dangerous situation," Azzarone said.
Long-term effects include brain, kidney and liver damage, Azzarone said.
Broadbent said she hoped the program would raise awareness so parents know what to pay attention to.
"Maybe they will lock up certain products or not keep them in their home or just pay attention to products they find empty," Broadbent said.
were found at different locations in town, said Patrolman Matt Azzarone, DARE officer and school resource officer for the Waretown police.
All the teens were taken to Southern Ocean County Hospital in Manahawkin. The girl was in critical condition last week. Police said they did not know her current condition.
Police did not give information on the conditions of the other two, nor would they say whether the teens were still in the hospital. It was unclear whether charges would be filed.
The teens, whom police declined to identify, were believed to have taken between 16 and 48 pills each of Coricidin Cold and Cough medicine, Azzarone said. The normal dose is two pills.
Azzarone said the DARE program does not address specific over-the-counter drugs that can be abused to discourage teens from rummaging their medicine cabinets for drugs to use. But Azzarone said the program does talk about how abusing over-the-counter and prescription drugs is just as bad as illegal drugs.
"There's still a lethal amount. If they take it in large quantities, they can potentially put themselves in a dangerous situation," Azzarone said.
Long-term effects include brain, kidney and liver damage, Azzarone said.
Broadbent said she hoped the program would raise awareness so parents know what to pay attention to.
"Maybe they will lock up certain products or not keep them in their home or just pay attention to products they find empty," Broadbent said.
http://www.app.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?A.../704170385/1070 (http://www.app.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20070417/NEWS02/704170385/1070)
Posted by the Asbury Park Press on 04/17/07
WARETOWN — The head of the local Municipal Alliance knew that over-the-counter drug abuse happens, but when three local teenagers were rushed to the hospital last week after overdosing, it surprised her.
"It's the first one that hits home," said Jeanne Broadbent, head of the alliance, which today is sponsoring a parental information session on over-the-counter drug abuse in response to the incident.
Three teens were determined to have consumed large quantities of over-the-counter cough medicine in an attempt to get high after a 15-year-old girl was found unconscious by her father last Monday around 5:30 p.m. in a home in the Pebble Beach section of the township.
The girl and two other teens, an 18-year-old man and a 15-year-old boy, had taken the drugs together but split up after that and were found at different locations in town, said Patrolman Matt Azzarone, DARE officer and school resource officer for the Waretown police.
All the teens were taken to Southern Ocean County Hospital in Manahawkin. The girl was in critical condition last week. Police said they did not know her current condition.
Police did not give information on the conditions of other two, nor would they say whether the teens were still in the hospital. It was unclear whether charges would be filed.
The teens, whom police declined to identify, were believed to have taken between 16 and 48 pills each of Coricidin Cold and Cough medicine, Azzarone said. The normal dose is two pills.
Azzarone said the DARE program does not address specific over-the-counter drugs that can be abused to discourage teens from rummaging their medicine cabinets for drugs to use. But Azzarone said the program does talk about how abusing over-the-counter and prescription drugs is just as bad as illegal drugs.
"There's still a lethal amount. If they take it in large quantities, they can potentially put themselves in a dangerous situation," Azzarone said.
Long-term effects include brain, kidney and liver damage, Azzarone said.
Broadbent said she hoped the program would raise awareness so parents know what to pay attention to.
"Maybe they will lock up certain products or not keep them in their home or just pay attention to products they find empty," Broadbent said.
were found at different locations in town, said Patrolman Matt Azzarone, DARE officer and school resource officer for the Waretown police.
All the teens were taken to Southern Ocean County Hospital in Manahawkin. The girl was in critical condition last week. Police said they did not know her current condition.
Police did not give information on the conditions of the other two, nor would they say whether the teens were still in the hospital. It was unclear whether charges would be filed.
The teens, whom police declined to identify, were believed to have taken between 16 and 48 pills each of Coricidin Cold and Cough medicine, Azzarone said. The normal dose is two pills.
Azzarone said the DARE program does not address specific over-the-counter drugs that can be abused to discourage teens from rummaging their medicine cabinets for drugs to use. But Azzarone said the program does talk about how abusing over-the-counter and prescription drugs is just as bad as illegal drugs.
"There's still a lethal amount. If they take it in large quantities, they can potentially put themselves in a dangerous situation," Azzarone said.
Long-term effects include brain, kidney and liver damage, Azzarone said.
Broadbent said she hoped the program would raise awareness so parents know what to pay attention to.
"Maybe they will lock up certain products or not keep them in their home or just pay attention to products they find empty," Broadbent said.
http://www.app.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?A.../704170385/1070 (http://www.app.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20070417/NEWS02/704170385/1070)