Not too long ago, four local elementary school children ended up on respirators in the ICU after they each took 20 Coricidin tablets to get high.  It was a good 36 hours before they were out of the woods.  What started out to be an afternoon of fun, turned out to be a life-and-death struggle for the children and their parents.

So, if you think that people (including kids) do not abuse over-the-counter drugs, think again.  In my practice, I’m seeing this kind of abuse more and more.  Hey, it’s cheap and it’s accessible (and, therefore a real problem).

The Number One problem is Dextromethorphan. It’s found in cold medications that you can buy right off the pharmacy shelf – Coricidin HBP, Vick’s 44, Children’s Tylenol, Robitussin, Triaminic DM, Nicol, Theraflu, Dimetapp.  Right now, this is one of the most abused compounds around, and the level of sophistication with the 8-to-12-year-old children using them is intense.  The kids are the ones who’ve given this drug its street names: Triple C, Orange Crush, Dex, Skittles and Robo.  They say they are “Robo-tripping.”

This drug can achieve the sedative or hypnotic effects of Oxycontin, Roxycodone, and Xanax, but, it actually produces a delirium – not a high – and a state of confusion.  What actually happens is that the drug blocks one of the neurotransmitters, which causes the brain to stop functioning. After taking it, breathing problems may develop and blood pressure can fluctuate. It can cause hallucinations, dizziness, muscle twitches, nausea, vomiting, convulsion and death. (more…)

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