The good news is that teenagers’ use of illegal drugs has declined 23 percent since 2001. But teen abuse of prescription drugs and over-the-counter cough or cold medicines is still disturbingly high.
In fact, according to a federal report cited recently by The Washington Post, about 7 percent – or one in 14 – of all 12th graders said they’d taken non-prescription remedies to get high during the past year.
Equally troubling is the revelation that among eighth graders, one in 25, or 4 percent, said they’d used the medications to get high, too.
Many of the over-the-counter nostrums contain the cough suppressant dextro- methorphan, or DXM, which in high doses can cause brain damage or death.
The problem of teens abusing DXM has been known for a long time, according to Mary Hilko of the Rocky Mountain Poison and Drug Center. But there haven’t been a lot of cases in the region lately.
“Over the years, it seems to ebb and flow,” she said.
High doses of DXM can cause hallucinations, Hilko said.
“It makes them very drowsy; they can feel dizzy, and with huge amounts, can actually go into a coma,” she said.
Also, large doses can stop a person’s breathing.
Additionally, some cough and cold medicines contain acetaminophen, which in large amounts can cause liver damage, Hilko noted.
But teens also are abusing a number of prescription drugs, including Percocet, Oxycontin, Xanax, Vicodin, Ritalin and Adderall, among others, according to an ABC News report. Often, the teens filch medications legally prescribed for other family members or obtain them from illegal sources, including over the Internet.
Abuse of central nervous system depressants, for example, can slow breathing, the heart and respiration with fatal results, especially if combined with prescription pain medication, over-the-counter cold and allergy drugs, or alcohol, the National Institute on Drug Abuse states.
Parents should warn teens about abusing the medicines and watch for such symptoms as slurred speech, a staggering walk, sweating, nausea, vomiting, numb extremities, dilated pupils, drowsiness and dizziness.
These medications can do a lot of good if a person is ill but can be deadly if abused. Vigilance and simple precautions such as disposing of leftover drugs in the family medicine chest can avert tragedy.
