Jan 11, 2008 1:48 pm US/Central
Report: Young Adults Abuse Cough Medicine
WASHINGTON (AP) ―
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The cough suppressant DXM is found in more than 140 cough and cold medications available without a prescription.
AP
About 3.1 million people between the ages of 12-25 have used cough
and cold medicine to get high, the government reported Wednesday.
The number of young people who abused over-the-counter cold
medicines is comparable to use of LSD and much greater than that for
methamphetamine among the age group, according to the federal Substance
Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration.
The agency's 2006 survey on drug abuse and health found that more
than 5 percent of teenagers and young adults had misused cough and cold
medicines and indicated that these people also had experimented
frequently with illicit drugs.
Nearly 82 percent also had used marijuana. Slightly less than half
also used inhalants or hallucinogens, such as LSD or Ecstasy, the
agency said.
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.
Among all persons aged 12 to 25, the rate of past year misuse among
whites was 2.1 percent, which was three times higher than the level for
blacks, 0.6 percent, and also significantly higher than the level for
Hispanics, 1.4 percent.
"While increasing attention has been paid to the public health risk
of prescription drug abuse, we also need to be aware of the growing
dangers of misuse of over-the-counter cough and cold medications,
especially among young people," said Terry Cline, the agency's
administrator.
(© 2009 The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.)
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