Full access
Professional News
Published Online: 18 April 2008

Over-the-Counter Products Becoming Drugs of Choice for Many Teens

Eve BenderAuthors Info & Affiliations
Publication: Psychiatric News
Volume 43, Number 8
https://doi.org/10.1176/pn.43.8.0009a
A new analysis of data from a government-conducted survey reveals that 5 percent of young people reported abusing over-the-counter cough medicines over the year preceding the survey.
The cough suppressant dextromethorphan is found in more than 140 cough and cold medicines available without a prescription, and when taken in large amounts dextromethorphan can produce hallucinations or dissociative states similar to those caused by hallucinogens such as PCP.
According to an analysis of the 2006 National Survey on Drug Use and Health, which is conducted each year by the federal Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA), an estimated 3.1 million people aged 12 to 25 (5.3 percent) used cough and cold medication for recreational purposes in their life-times. Almost a million had done so within the prior year.
The number of young people who were estimated to misuse cough and cold medicines in the prior year surpassed the number of those claiming to have tried methamphetamines (740,000) and LSD (485,000) in that year.
The SAMHSA survey is the largest of its kind and is conducted to gather information on drug, alcohol, and tobacco use from a nationally representative sample of about 67,000 people across the United States, including about 45,000 people aged 12 to 25.
According to the findings, girls aged 12 to 17 were more likely than their male counterparts to have misused these cough and cold medications within the prior year (2.3 percent vs. 1.5 percent).
In addition, among all people aged 12 to 25 in the United States, the rate of past-year misuse among whites (2.1 percent) was three times higher than the rate among blacks (0.6 percent) and substantially higher than the rate for Hispanics (1.4 percent).
Of those who said they abused cough and cold medicines, 30.5 percent used a Nyquil product, and about 18 percent used a Coricidin or Robitussin product, according to the report.
“Misuse of Over-the-Counter Cough and Cold Medications Among Persons Aged 12 to 25” is posted at<http://oas.samhsa.gov/2k8/cough/cough.htm>.▪

Information & Authors

Information

Published In

Go to Psychiatric News
Psychiatric News
Volume 43 • Number 8 • April 18, 2008
Pages: 9

History

Published online: 18 April 2008
Published in print: April 18, 2008

Notes

Government officials highlight dangers arising from the misuse of cough and cold medicines by young people.

Authors

Details

Metrics & Citations

Metrics

Citations

Export Citations

If you have the appropriate software installed, you can download article citation data to the citation manager of your choice. Simply select your manager software from the list below and click Download.

For more information or tips please see 'Downloading to a citation manager' in the Help menu.

Format
Citation style
Style
Copy to clipboard
Tips for downloading citations

There are no citations for this item

View Options

View options

Get Access

Login options

Already a subscriber? Access your subscription through your login credentials or your institution for full access to this article.

Personal login Institutional Login Open Athens login

Not a subscriber?

Subscribe Now / Learn More

PsychiatryOnline subscription options offer access to the DSM-5-TR® library, books, journals, CME, and patient resources. This all-in-one virtual library provides psychiatrists and mental health professionals with key resources for diagnosis, treatment, research, and professional development.

Need more help? PsychiatryOnline Customer Service may be reached by emailing [email protected] or by calling 800-368-5777 (in the U.S.) or 703-907-7322 (outside the U.S.).

Media

Figures

Other

Tables

Share

Share

Share article link

Share

×

As described within the American Psychiatric Association (APA)'s Privacy Policy and Terms of Use, this website utilizes cookies, including for the purpose of offering an optimal online experience and services tailored to your preferences. Please read the entire Privacy Policy and Terms of Use. By closing this message, browsing this website, continuing the navigation, or otherwise continuing to use the APA's websites, you confirm that you understand and accept the terms of the Privacy Policy and Terms of Use, including the utilization of cookies.