Alarm About Youth Abuse of Cough Medicine

 

Federal researchers say that about 5 percent of 12- to 25-year-olds have misused over-the-counter cold and cough medicines to get high, MSNBC reported Jan. 9.

Both the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) and the Drug Enforcement Administration have warned about the growing abuse of DXM- and codeine-based medications that in high doses can cause hallucinations and other problems. The medicines can be mixed with soda or sports drinks to create concoctions dubbed “Syrup,” “Purple Drank,” or “Lean.”

Use of such mixes has been popularized in some rap songs, but recent research shows that whites are three times more likely to abuse cold and cough medicines as blacks, with use rates similar to those of LSD, methamphetamine, and ecstasy.

NyQuil, Coricidin, and Robitussin are among the popular brands of abused medications, researchers found.

See also; Huffing and Suicide in Girls

Drugs and Addiction Information for Parents and Teachers

 

You can also read Dr. NIDA’s answers to the most frequently asked questions about drugs and drug abuse here:

Anabolic Steroids—Hand out this “damage diagram” activity and help kids understand the big picture about steroids’ side effects.

Brain & Addiction—Try this activity to get the brain going and the discussion flowing.

Ecstasy—Find out how much your students know or don’t know about ecstasy. Have them try this quiz.

HIV, AIDS, and Drug Abuse—Teach your children/students the connection between drugs and HIV infection.

Marijuana—A friend on “weed” is a friend in need-of your kids’ knowledge. Download and discuss this letter-writing activity.

Nicotine—Try this matching activity in class to help kids understand nicotine’s causes and effects.

Mind Over Matter—This series is designed to encourage young people in grades five through nine to learn about the effects of drug abuse on the body and the brain.

Mind Over Matter Teacher’s Guide—Use this Teacher’s Guide in conjunction with the Mind Over Matter magazine series to promote an understanding of the physical reality of drug use, as well as curiosity about neuroscience.

Full list of resources at; NIDA Drug Abuse and Addiction for Parents and Teachers

See also;

• Alcoholic Family Roles
• Brief-TSF can assist people cease alcohol consumption.

Huffing and Suicide in Girls

 

Study reveals ‘huffing’ household chemicals connected to teen suicide

Girls who ‘huff’ are at higher risk of suicidal thoughts and behaviors

With suicide as the third leading cause of death among adolescents in the United States, a new University of Denver (DU) study reveals inhaling or “huffing” vapors of common household goods, such as glue or nail polish, are associated with increased suicidal thoughts and attempts.

Of the study’s participants,

• 33 percent reported having inhaled volatile solvents,
• 25 percent had attempted suicide, and
• 58 percent reported suicidal thoughts.

Stacey Freedenthal and Jeffrey M. Jenson of DU’s Graduate School of Social Work joined researchers from Chapel Hill and the University of Pittsburgh in a study of 723 incarcerated youth. “Inhalant Use and Suicidality among Incarcerated Youth” appeared in the September 2007 issue of the academic journal Drug and Alcohol Dependence. The study was the first work to categorize both levels of severity of inhalant use and gender in relation to suicidal ideas and suicide attempts.

The investigators found a significant increase in suicidal thoughts and attempts with higher use of volatile solvents.

Researchers did not determine which problem came first, the huffing or the suicidal behavior, but showed that the two are undeniably connected, even when accounting for numerous other factors.

Freedenthal warns parents to be aware of the possibility of suicidal thoughts in children who have been caught inhaling household chemicals.

“Inhalant use has many serious, physiological consequences, including death,” says Freedenthal. “Now we are learning ever more strongly that they are also linked to suicidal thoughts and behaviors.”

The study found the correlation between huffing and suicidality greater in girls than boys. More than 80 percent of girls who abused inhalants revealed a history of suicide attempts, while less than 60 percent of boys showed the same history. The study also indicated that suicidal thoughts were much higher for girls than boys. Suicidal thoughts and attempts were considered two separate issues, since thoughts do not always lead to attempts, and attempts are not always preceded by much thought.

The study involved 723 participants incarcerated by the Missouri Division of Youth Services, 629 boys and 94 girls at an average age of 15. Participants were asked if they huffed any of the 35 common household substances, such as;

• paint,
• paint thinner,
• shoe polish,
• spot remover,
• floor polish,
• kerosene,
• gasoline,
• antifreeze,
• permanent markers,
• nail polish remover,
• mothballs,
• waxes,
• lighter fluid, and others.