I am not the mother of a teen, but I felt compelled to post this. This is an article I wrote on another site, and I wanted to share it here. It contains important information for parents of teens!
The drug DXM (Dextromethorphan) is a cough suppressant found in many over-the-counter cough medicines. Due to my personal experience with abuse of this drug, I would like to pass on some information to everyone out there, especially parents of teens, as DXM abuse is most popular in this age group, due to its availability, legality, and also how easy it is to hide.
DXM is a dissociative drug, such as Ketamine or PCP, which gives gives its users many effects, including:
- Distorted sense of reality
- Euphoria
- Dissociation of mind from the body (out of body experiences)
- Mild hallucinations
If you think a friend or family member is taking DXM, watch for:
- Dilation or constriction of the eyes, or an "off" look
- Robotic walking (robo-walk)
- Packaging or receipts for cough meds on person or in belongings
- Strange giggling or laughing
- Loss of appetite
- Twitching/stuttering, or slurred speech, sometimes produces a lisp
- Vomiting
Slang terms for DXM use include: Robotripping, Dexing, Skittling
Slang terms for DXM include: Skittles, Triple C's, Tussin, Dex, Robo
Many users of DXM turn to this drug believing that because it is legal, it is safe.
THIS IS NOT TRUE.
DXM has been linked to deaths. It is not common, but it is certainly possible, especially when users are taking DXM that is not pure (such as Corecedin or NyQuil) or when taken in conjunction with other medications (notably, SSRIs).
DXM has been shown to cause brain damage, usually minor, but can have long term affects on mood and attention span. DXM also causes rapid heart rate, and can cause serotonin syndrome: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Serotonin_syndrome
If you think that a loved one has been abusing DXM, please look into getting them help. It may seem like just some silly teenage trick to try to get high, but it has the potential for abuse every bit as strongly as narcotics, so keep this in mind.
For more information, here is the Wikipedia page devoted to DXM: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dextromethorphan
The drug DXM (Dextromethorphan) is a cough suppressant found in many over-the-counter cough medicines. Due to my personal experience with abuse of this drug, I would like to pass on some information to everyone out there, especially parents of teens, as DXM abuse is most popular in this age group, due to its availability, legality, and also how easy it is to hide.
DXM is a dissociative drug, such as Ketamine or PCP, which gives gives its users many effects, including:
- Distorted sense of reality
- Euphoria
- Dissociation of mind from the body (out of body experiences)
- Mild hallucinations
If you think a friend or family member is taking DXM, watch for:
- Dilation or constriction of the eyes, or an "off" look
- Robotic walking (robo-walk)
- Packaging or receipts for cough meds on person or in belongings
- Strange giggling or laughing
- Loss of appetite
- Twitching/stuttering, or slurred speech, sometimes produces a lisp
- Vomiting
Slang terms for DXM use include: Robotripping, Dexing, Skittling
Slang terms for DXM include: Skittles, Triple C's, Tussin, Dex, Robo
Many users of DXM turn to this drug believing that because it is legal, it is safe.
THIS IS NOT TRUE.
DXM has been linked to deaths. It is not common, but it is certainly possible, especially when users are taking DXM that is not pure (such as Corecedin or NyQuil) or when taken in conjunction with other medications (notably, SSRIs).
DXM has been shown to cause brain damage, usually minor, but can have long term affects on mood and attention span. DXM also causes rapid heart rate, and can cause serotonin syndrome: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Serotonin_syndrome
If you think that a loved one has been abusing DXM, please look into getting them help. It may seem like just some silly teenage trick to try to get high, but it has the potential for abuse every bit as strongly as narcotics, so keep this in mind.
For more information, here is the Wikipedia page devoted to DXM: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dextromethorphan
