The misuse of medications among teens, particularly dextromethorphan (DXM), is becoming increasingly common. According to experts, DXM is often abused for its hallucinogenic effects, similar to illegal drugs. Despite its availability in over 125 OTC cough and cold medicines, a safe dosage is significantly lower than the amounts teenagers typically consume to achieve a high. The emergence of new slang associated with DXM misuse indicates a concerning trend among adolescents, urging parents to engage in conversations about these dangers.
One of the older fads is in the news again: getting high from cough and cold medicines containing dextromethorphan (DXM). At very high doses, DXM mimics the effects of illegal drugs like phencyclidine (PCP) and ketamine.
More than 125 over-the-counter (OTC) medicines for cough and colds contain DXM. A safe dose of products with DXM is about 15-30 milligrams (mg) over 24 hours, but it can take 10 times that amount to make a teenager high.
Nonmedical medication misuse may be much more common than previously reported, with an increasing adolescent interest in using DXM and promethazine together.
Terms like 'syrup head' denote someone using cough syrups with DXM to get high, highlighting a concerning trend among adolescents that parents should monitor closely.
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