- Home
- Youth Culture
- Statistics
- Millions of Youth Use Cold Meds to Get High
Millions of Youth Use Cold Meds to Get High
- By Surfing the Current
- Published 05/29/2008
- Statistics
- Unrated
source: AP, January 9
About 3.1 million youth between the ages of 12 and 25 have used cough and cold medicine to get high, the government reports. The number of young people who abused over-the-counter cold medicines is comparable to their use of LSD and much greater than that for methamphetamines. A 2006 survey on drug abuse and health found that more than five percent of teenagers and young adults had misused cough and cold medicines and indicated that these people also had experimented frequently with illicit drugs. Plus,
• Nearly 82 percent also had used marijuana.
• Slightly fewer than half also used inhalants or hallucinogens, such as LSD or Ecstasy.
The cough suppressant DXM is found in more than 140 cough and cold medications available without a prescription. When taken in large amounts, DXM can cause disorientation, blurred vision, slurred speech, and vomiting.
• Nearly 82 percent also had used marijuana.
• Slightly fewer than half also used inhalants or hallucinogens, such as LSD or Ecstasy.
The cough suppressant DXM is found in more than 140 cough and cold medications available without a prescription. When taken in large amounts, DXM can cause disorientation, blurred vision, slurred speech, and vomiting.
