Do people use cough syrup to get high?

Question

I have a friend whose 20 year old nephew is staying with her. She just found six empty bottles of Robitussin cough syrup behind the counter...She's worried that he's using cough syrup to get a buzz. Is this possible? Only serious answers please -- she's really worried.

Answer 1

ABSOLUTELY!! Please tell your friend to get her nephew help...and now!! This is the latest and greatest fad with teenagers. Some call it "Triple C-ing" because they do it with Corricidin Cough & Cold. Robitussin is also very popular along with ANY OTC syrup containing alcohol. I studied this extensively in my PSYCH class in nursing school and it is a growing trend that should scare parents in America. Teenagers are being found dead or near dead after OD-ing on this stuff that is READILY AVAILABLE to them at any corner drugstore 24 hours a day. Some stores are starting to put a limit on the # of bottles you can buy at one time, but then they just walk next door and buy some more.
PLEASE tell your friend to get her nephew some SERIOUS help. He will resist it and swear he doesn't need help and that nothing's wrong with him, but it may indeed save his life. This is a serious problem that then leads to other addictive behavior and possibly illegal behaviors that end up hurting him AND someone else!!

Answer 2

It is possible and can be common in underage kids.


Robitussin High

A “Robitussin high” is derived from abusing Robitussin, a common cough and cold product, and when taken in recreational doses, which far exceed recommended doses, the user may experience a “high.” This Robitussin high is caused by the excessive dose of dextromethorphan, a common ingredient found in many cough medications, including Robitussin. When such medications are abused they become a dissociative drug.* Teens often buy Robitussin because it is a recognized cough and cold brand. Also, many of the slang terms surrounding DXM abuse are spin-offs from the Robitussin brand, such as “Robo Tripping.”

Statistics on Teen Abuse of Rx and Over-the-Counter Medicine:
The Partnership’s 18th annual study of teen drug trends confirms that Generation Rx has arrived as an alarming number of today’s teenagers are more likely to have abused Rx and OTC medications than a variety of illegal drugs like Ecstasy, cocaine, crack and meth. Nearly one in five teens (19 percent or 4.5 million) report abusing prescription medications to get high; and one in 10 (10 percent or 2.4 million) report abusing cough medicine to get high.”

“What we have here is a case of misinformation and poor attitudes – teens seeing few health risks associated with intentional abuse – teamed with easy access at home and via the Internet. Together it’s a potentially lethal combination,” said Steve Pasierb, CEO of the Partnership for Drug-Free America.

“There is a world of difference between good medicine and bad behavior,” said Dr. Michael Maves, executive vice president & CEO of the American Medical Association and a Partnership board member. “When these medicines are abused – when they are used for anything other than their intended and approved purpose – they can be every bit as dangerous as illegal street drugs.”

Answer 3

yes..is true i saw in the news a couple of days ago..teenagers getting high on cough syrup..tell your friend to look into it. this is very dangereous.

Answer 4

maybe you can but i really dont kniw if u can