more DXM news
May. 27th, 2004 02:41 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
novapsycheOver-the-Counter Drug Abuse Rises in Wyo.
Abuse of over-the-counter cold and allergy medicines has become one of the biggest problems in the area's schools, according to a Drug Enforcement Administration official.
[...] She said Dextromethorphan, a cough suppressant, is the main drug in the medications youngsters are seeking. When used as directed, it is safe and has few side effects. But misuse can cause depressant and hallucinogenic effects including blurred vision, slurred speech, involuntary muscle movement, vomiting of blood, paranoia, excessive sweating, irregular heartbeat, loss of consciousness and, rarely, death.
"Kids aren't just taking two or three of these," Gay said. "They're taking two or three blister packs, or 20 to 30 pills at a time."
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Okay, again, the term "blister packs" alerts one to the fact that the DEA must be talking about Coricidin in particular, and not DXM in general. The most ubiquitous medium for DXM is cough syrup, and not many high schoolers are keen on quaffing the stuff.
Also, the list of side effects is a bit out of order. Vomiting of blood is not a common effect. Neither is true loss of consciousness (i.e., blacking out). Death, of course, deserves to be last on the list.
Abuse of over-the-counter cold and allergy medicines has become one of the biggest problems in the area's schools, according to a Drug Enforcement Administration official.
[...] She said Dextromethorphan, a cough suppressant, is the main drug in the medications youngsters are seeking. When used as directed, it is safe and has few side effects. But misuse can cause depressant and hallucinogenic effects including blurred vision, slurred speech, involuntary muscle movement, vomiting of blood, paranoia, excessive sweating, irregular heartbeat, loss of consciousness and, rarely, death.
"Kids aren't just taking two or three of these," Gay said. "They're taking two or three blister packs, or 20 to 30 pills at a time."
---
Okay, again, the term "blister packs" alerts one to the fact that the DEA must be talking about Coricidin in particular, and not DXM in general. The most ubiquitous medium for DXM is cough syrup, and not many high schoolers are keen on quaffing the stuff.
Also, the list of side effects is a bit out of order. Vomiting of blood is not a common effect. Neither is true loss of consciousness (i.e., blacking out). Death, of course, deserves to be last on the list.