A new drug danger in our neighborhoods

George S. Harris
Published: July 8, 2008

I’m sure most folks have seen the Office of National Drug Control Policy’s TV commercial about abuse of prescription drugs where the young male is pointing out the various prescription medications he
has been able to steal in order to satisfy his need for “highs”—“This yellow one is for my post-partum depression.” “This one for sciatica, whatever that is.” Etc.  And you probably believe that your kids
aren’t abusing drugs.  I’ve got news for some of you.  They are.

Well in our neighborhood, there is a new non-prescription, over-the-counter drug that is being abused and you probably will never guess what it is.  The “drug” is any cough syrup with alcohol and
dextromethorphan or DEX.  These cough suppressants are the drug of choice for teenagers since they can walk into any drug store or super market and buy them with impunity. No ID check required.
The particular one I have noticed in our neighborhood is Vick’s Formula 44 Cough Relief. 

While on the surface, abuse of cough syrups sounds benign ... au contraire. What parents may not know is that these cough suppressants are DANGEROUS. Just four ounces can cause rapid
heartbeat, high blood pressure, agitation, loss of muscle control and psychotic reactions. This is according to a report, “Prescription for Danger, A Report On the Troubling Trend of Prescription and Over-
the-Counter Drug Abuse Among the Nation’s Teens” published by the Office of National Drug Control Policy. Here is the Web site for this report: http://www.mediacampaign.org/newsroom/press08/rx_rpt_
2008.pdf.

In addition to word of mouth among teens as to the proper use of cough syrups to get high, numerous Web sites have cropped up advising on the “how to” of cough syrup abuse. 

Parents — be alert and check on the actions of your children. If you want more information about teen prescription drug and over the counter drug abuse, just go to Google and enter “prescription drug
abuse,” “cough syrup abuse” or “over the counter drug abuse”— you will be shocked.

GEORGE S. HARRIS

Manassas