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05-22-2009 05:00 AM |
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Cold medicines often abused
Thursday, May 21, 2009
Marisa Schultz and Mark Hicks / The Detroit News
Hallucinogens aren't the only legal drugs Michigan health officials are growing more concerned about. The rising abuse of over-the-counter drugs -- including painkillers and cough syrups -- also is gaining attention.
The active ingredient teenage users seek for a high is dextromethorphan, a narcotic derivative used in more than 100 over-the-counter cough suppressants, including Robitussin DM and Nyquil, and found in higher doses in pill form in Coricidin HBP Cold and Cough.
When abused, dextromethorphan -- or DXM -- can cause dizziness, confusion, double-vision, slurred speech, vomiting and disorientation.
The Partnership for a Drug-Free America estimated in 2007 1 in 10 youths has used cough medicines with dextromethorphan to get high. Yet despite greater awareness of the problem, some area health officials are noticing an uptick in young people addicted to cough medicine.
"It's gone from maybe one to two a year to three last month," said Jason Schwartz, clinical director of Dawn Farm, an addiction treatment program in Washtenaw County that treats 2,200 patients annually. "It's unusual for us."
In 2006, the comprehensive national survey of drug use of among teens, Monitoring the Future, started tracking abuse of the over-the-counter cold and cough medicines. The prevalence rates were fairly high among eighth-, 10th- and 12th-graders -- higher than ecstasy, cocaine, LSD, other hallucinogens and OxyContin -- but had dipped slightly since, according to the 2008 study by scientists at the University of Michigan's Institute for Social Research.
Dr. Mark Menestrina, medical director of the detox unit at Brighton Hospital, said researchers have noted a rise in teens abusing over-the-counter drugs.
"Young people are particularly vulnerable to the effects ... because the executive functions and decision-making in the brain are not fully formed," he said. "They may think they feel OK, but their chances of suffering consequences are much higher."
Slang terms for dextromethorphan include Dex, Robo, Skittles, Syrup, Triple-C and Tussin.
Misuse of over-the-counter drugs prompted the Michigan Department of Community Health's Office of Drug Control Policy to sponsor a summit in March. A task force to examine preventative measures will be formed as a result, said Mark Steinberg, an administrator with the office.
Prescription drug abuse among teens also remains a problem.
According to the most recent National Survey on Drug Abuse and Health, the number of Michigan youth age 17 or under admitting treatment for prescription drug use more than quintupled between 2000 and 2008.
"The prescription drug abuse problem is cross cutting," Steinberg said. "It appears within all age groups, socio-economic strata, and both genders."
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"Hallucinogens aren't the only legal drugs Michigan health officials are growing more concerned about."
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