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Cough Medicine Abuse: Size of the Problem

Recent research shows that while parents are aware of the dangers of illicit street drugs, both prescription medicine and over-the-counter (OTC) cough medicines are often overlooked as potential threats. The lack of awareness about this type of substance abuse is a barrier to preventing it.

According to data from the Partnership for a Drug-Free America, while an estimated one in five teens has abused prescription drugs, an estimated one in 10 youths—or 2.4 million young people—has intentionally abused cough medicines to get high. Data collected in 2008 by the National Institute on Drug Abuse for its Monitoring the Future study estimates the intentional abuse of cough medicine among eighth, tenth, and twelfth graders is at 3.6 percent, 5.3 percent, and 5.5 percent, respectively.

DXM abuse is becoming more common in teen culture, especially on the Internet. There are hundreds of web sites and online communities promoting the abuse of DXM-containing medicines. Some of these sites provide guides on how to achieve a high based on a user’s height and weight, how to combine DXM-containing medicines with other drugs, and what effects are to be expected at specific dosage levels. Some web sites serve as dangerous Internet drug dealers, allowing teens to buy large amounts of pure, unfinished DXM online.

Web sites promoting DXM abuse information are not the only online sources providing dangerous content to kids. Social networking sites such as MySpace, YouTube, LiveJournal, and Facebook are filled with detailed instructions, user conversations, and videos of DXM abuse. Users blog and post videos about specific plans to take DXM, how and when they will take it, and even experiences while abusing. Through these outlets, users actively compare notes, exchange approaches, and further promote this dangerous type of abuse.

Cough Medicine Abuse—Side Effects

Cough Medicine Abuse—Warning Signs

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