As a parent, your entire goal is to keep your children safe. This starts from the very beginning with stair gates, toilet locks, and cabinet guards. You spend the better part of the first years of your child’s life protecting them against anything that could go wrong in your home. You breathe a sigh of relief the first time you don’t have to dice a hot dog into tiny pieces. You no longer feel anxious when it is “too quiet” while you run upstairs to grab something you need.
Your worries change as they grow up. Slowly, the cleaning supplies can stay out in plain sight and the bed rails come off of the “big kid” bed. Life at home gets easier.
And then you begin to focus on the outside world.
Stranger danger.
Drinking and driving.
Illegal drugs.
You start to have those conversations with your children. You open up a dialogue about listening to their inner voices and making good decisions. You believe with all your heart that you have covered every possible “what if” scenario. Because, you get it, you know with every fiber of your being that it is the “what ifs” that will get you.
As parents, we are doing all of this with our children. Between us, we have one full-fledged teenager and two almost pre-teens. We talk every single day about what we believe they need to know to survive outside of our cone of protection. We are savvier than a lot of parents out there, in that we spend a lot of time on social media. We know what is happening on Instagram and Snapchat. We are routinely monitoring our children’s devices-with their full knowledge. They know that the access to a phone or an iPod is a privilege and comes with great expectations.
We feel like we are doing the very best that we can do to prepare our children for the outside world. And it turns out, that one of the greatest dangers they face is right in our own homes hiding in plain sight right in our medicine cabinets.
It’s over the counter cough medicine.
Yes, cough medicine.
Dextromethorphan (DXM), is an ingredient found in many over-the-counter (OTC) cough medicines. Used according to directions, it is safe. However, taking it in excessive amounts can cause hallucinations and loss of motor control. This is why it’s become the newest substance teens are using to get high.
Did you know that in the last year 1 in 20 teens has abused cough medicine? Did you know that 1 in 3 teens report that they know someone who has experimented with OTC cough medicine?
1 in 3.
Look at your children and their friends.
Someone in that group counts toward this statistic.
It is staggering when you think about it.
Because, unlike illegal drugs, you aren’t even thinking about warning your children against the dangers of medicine that can be purchased at any grocery store or that you, yourself, would not think twice about using if you needed it.
It would be so easy to think to yourself, “No, not my teen! My teen would know better than to do this”. But would they? Think about it for a minute. This is EXACTLY the kind of things that “good” kids would try. Because they wouldn’t think it was “so” bad, like cocaine or heroin. They would see it as a way to push the envelope and rebel without “really” being dangerous, because it’s just an over the counter thing. And the consequences could be devastating. That was a chilling realization.
We must make sure it doesn’t happen. We must arm ourselves and our children with the knowledge of the true danger in using an OTC cough medicine to get high. We’ve got to get educated about this and how to spot it.
We definitely need to be talking to our children about abusing OTC cough medicine. It’s a matter of life and death.
This is a sponsored post and we received compensation for our participation in the Stop Medicine Abuse awareness program. All of the opinions and references to parental worry are our own.
I haven’t had to think about that yet but it makes sense. I have always worried about the prescription pain meds and lately the OTC meds that are used to make meth. My son came home with a D.A.R.E. ribbon yesterday and said that he has to remember Drugs are bad. I thought “hmmm six is a little young.” But then realized that drugs are pervasive and if I don’t talk to him about it he may become a statistic himself. My baby won’t always be a baby
It is so true Herchel. The conversation has to start young and just continue as they grow up more. It is that serious. And scary.
Thank you for writing about this very important topic! It’s staggering to think about the numbers. 1 in 3. Isn’t that just awful?! And we all think, not my kid! Love that you are having an open, honest dialog with your children about this! And thanks for bringing us into the conversation too.
You are welcome Nicole. It really means a lot to us to share this topic with our readers.
It is so very scary to think about that stuff like this does indeed happen and take place. From working in a middle school, I know all too well the realities in this day and age. You are s right that as parents we need to open the lines of communication as our kids get older. I know I am going to try my best and hardest to keep my kids educated with stuff like this and hope that they do understand how dangerous these types of medicines can be if taken improperly. Thanks for sharing these statistics with us.
We feel really honored to be a part of this project Janine. It is such an important topic, and we all must be talking non-stop to our children.
I first read about cough medicine abuse yesterday and how some kids mix it into a “cocktail” with 7 UP and something else I can’t remember. I was shocked. It is amazing to me how creative kids can get with these things. I worry to, what is the reason behind this? What are they trying so hard to escape from? I think it is the numbness of everyday life here. When we returned from our four year trip, and were now back in the US, where are kids had virtually unlimited access to movies, games, friends, malls and so on, my son told me, “Mom. Everyday is the same here.” And he was right. I think there is a blog post in that for me. Thanks for this information. I will be talking to my kids about it tonight!
Mixing it with 7 UP is just so scary. Glad to know that you will be sharing this message with your children. It is such an important one for all of us to be talking about.
I keep my meds up out of reach but I know I will have to talk to my kids about all of these drugs including the over the counter ones. It’s sad that we have to worry about so much about some of these things.
We agree Kita. It is sad to think that we all have to be having these conversations with our children.
I just messaged you guys. I will be sharing this all over the place.
We really appreciate you sharing this post AnnMarie.
We should get combat pay for the things we do and go through trying to raise our children to the point of independence and kicking them out of the house 😉 Sadly, it feels like each year there is something else to be aware of that could be detrimental to our children.
Could not agree with you more. It gets harder each year with more hidden dangers putting our children at risk. We all just have to stay vigilant and talk with our children.
An excellent, important post!
Thank you Eva. We feel the same way.
I’ve worked in the substance abuse treatment field for about 7 years now in communications. It’s not just the cough syrup that’s dangerous. It’s everything in the medicine cabinet. Teens (and even adults) think that because something comes out of a medicine cabinet, it’s safe. We see abuse of so many kinds of prescription drugs simply because they are readily available. Many communities offer a safe way to dispose of unused medications through the local police station or hospital. It’s important to get rid of anything that’s expired or just not necessary any more. I could go on and on. This is a huge topic that needs to be talked about! Thanks, girls for writing about it!
So glad to hear from someone on the front lines Jenn. We really appreciate you taking the time to share this information. It is so scary to realize how dangerous a medicine cabinet can be to our teens. We all must participate in spreading awareness.
Yes, this is definitely a problem. And the fact that it can be bought off the shelves in the drug stores is also a major problem! I do believe some stores have set age limits on who can buy cough syrup and things like that, but I hope it’s regulated and enforced to the fullest.
If it is not regulated or enforced it should be Britton. Children/teens do not need to be buying cough medicine.
An important conversation about a very serious problem - thank you for the information. There is so much to know and consider when it comes to keeping our children safe.
So much to know is right Kim. And we all need to be sharing what we do know to help others. This stuff is too important not to.
It’s so terrifying….all the things we need to worry about as parents…all the products in our own home that can be used to produce a high that you don’t think twice about. Sniffing markers and glue. Gulping cough medicine. Ugh…the list seems endless. My oldest is only 4 and I already talk to her about drinking, smoking, texting and driving, taking medicine when you aren’t sick….so sad that I can’t just talk to her about dinosaurs and fairy tales.
We agree with you wholeheartedly on this one. There is no much we have to be aware of all the time with our children. And they are never too young to start the conversation, even though we wish we didn’t have to at all.
I’ve started with vitamins and making sure my kids know the difference between medicine and candy. We’ve also talked about only taking the medicine you need, when you need it. This is the next step in those discussions. Thank you for addressing it!
You are welcome Rabia. And it sounds like you have started the conversation perfectly with your children. That is exactly how it should be done.
I’ve actually known about this for a while, though I didn’t know the odds are this high. Some years back a teenager in the house we lived, told me himself that he uses cough medication to get high quite often. I never told anyone or did anything then, mostly because I was a child myself and also because he was my friend and I thought I was being a good friend. I think that was a poor decision. I think it’s time to talk to the people closest to me.
My younger brother turned sixteen this year and he doesn’t go out with friends much. But it terrifies me to imagine what he would be exposed to if he did, and eventually he will go out, and I don’t know how to tell him about these things really.
Definitely talk with your brother Xae. Just be honest and let him know that trying things like this, even if as a way to feel like he is “cool” or “fitting in” is dangerous. And friends never try to pressure friends into hurting themselves.
This is why open lines of communication are so important. Which can be hard with a teenager.
So true Carli. It can be hard with a teenager, but I guess all we can do is try.
Wow. I had NO idea this was a thing!
Scary, right? We were not really familiar with it until we started working on this.
I had no idea! It is very scary to think of teens scouring their own home medicine cabinets for a cheap high. I don’t want to be naive, though, so I thank you for sharing this new trend. My oldest in only 11, but we will be in the throes of teenager-dom soon enough.
It comes on before you know it Lisa. And yes, you are so right. It is really scary to think about this topic. But it is necessary, sadly.
My son is almost 12, and although we have had the talk many times, we have never discussed OTC medicine. Thank you for the reminder.
You are welcome Jill. This campaign prompted us to start these conversations, as well.
Thanks for putting this out, I’m sure a lot of parents aren’t aware how dangerous this can be. Good job.
You are welcome. We definitely feel like the message needs to be shared.
I don’t have teens yet, but I saw a commercial for this the other day that made me think! The kids are getting more and more creative ways to get their drugs and they don’t even have to look far outside of their homes…thanks for bringing awareness to this super important issue!
You are welcome Nellie. We feel like this is a topic that is too important not to share.
This is so scary. It seems kids are becoming more and more creative in finding ways to get a buzz. It’s so important to begin educating and warning about the dangers even at home. Medicine should also be kept under lock and key. The other day I bought a compressed air can spray to clean my computer key board. I sprayed it and it made my throat burn. I thought it was tainted. Come to find out that due to teenage abuse of getting high, the company added a bitter-ing agent to discourage abuse. I was floored that kids actually does that. Great post!
WOW Hope. That is absolutely insane that they have had to put a bitter-ing agent in air compressor cans. I can’t say I am shocked to hear that, but it does make me sad.
Knowing the things I did as a kid, knowing of the things my friends did, I know that you cannot assume that a “good” kid = a “safe” kid. We all have temptations to do things we should not, including experimenting with things of all types. This is a great article reminding us parents that we need to talk to our kids about the hard things, the “obvious” things, and always keep an open line of communication with them because it could save a life. Thanks for the reminders, ladies!
So true Julie. Good kids do not equal safe kids. This is such an excellent comment, because you are so right about needing to have open lines of communication.
What a great and important topic this is and to be honest, I have yet to talk to my teen and pre-teen about it, as I was unaware of the dangers of it. I know that in order to purchase cold medicines, you have to show ID at the drugstore. True story! I went to CVS to purchase a cough syrup for my son and they carded me.I was a bit confused but they explained it.
Great message.
xoxo,
KG
It is definitely an important talk to be having for sure KG. And I am glad to hear that you had to show ID to get the cough syrup. I can’t say that I have found that to be the case at our drug stores.
You’re right. The dangers are not only outside the home, but inside as well. Not only should we be concerned about OTC cough syrup, but any medications we as adults are taking for whatever reason, should be kept away from our children. Abusing medications is very high on the list of what teenagers are doing. Thanks for posting this. Great information.
You are welcome Vicki. We feel really honored that we can help spread this message because it is SO important for all parents to know.
Awesome post!
Educating and talking to teens is paramount in preventing serious abuse. I have a daughter and we have long discussions into what relevance there is to taking anything that alters your level of consiousness - weather it be drugs, alcohol or cough medicine.
Excellent point Shashi. That is a great way to start the conversation…why would a teen want to alter their level of consciousness?
Terrific post! I wrote my own post for OTCSafety about this too. I had no idea. My son is a toddler, but I don’t think I would have known even if he were older. It’s so important for parents to learn about this and to talk about it with their kids. Thanks for writing about this!
You are welcome Jessica. We really feel like it is a topic that must be discussed, because so many people don’t know the dangers or that teens are even attempting this.
Thanks for a great reminder! I agree over the counter medicine is one of those things we never think about and a danger that a “good kid” would think might be safe to experiment with. Yet again, I think it’s so important that we talk to our children about all drugs and drug abuse. I let my teen know that no substance is safe or okay to use. I do not believe in the popular “kids will be kids” approach to teens and drug and alcohol abuse. And I feel an important step is for parents to realize all the dangers that are out there. Thanks again for the helpful post and great campaign!
You are totally right Kathy. We do not believe in the “kids will be kids” approach, either. Especially when it comes to safety and health issues. These things are too important not to be talking about with our children and teens.
I just had a discussion with my 17 yr old daughter about using others prescription drugs and how dangerous it is for these kids to pass out theirs like candy at school. She just had bad cramps so a girl gave her some oxy. She thought nothing of it being addictive, nor did the other girl. They are prescription drugs for a reason. If you havent educated your children do so! I dont want a tough lesson learned to be the death of my child or those around her.
Oh Tracy. That must have been SO SCARY for you to find out. I can totally see exactly how that would happen, too. Neither of them even trying to be “bad” either. Thank you for this very candid comment.
I think the job of parenting gets harder and harder with each generation as new dangers present themselves. You are right, this is exactly the way a “good kid” might choose to rebel, thinking it is perfectly safe OTC medicine. YIKES! As always, you gals are awesome! Great job shining a light on this scary issue.
Thank you Mo. We really feel like it is a privilege to get to share important information that we genuinely believe can help parents. It takes a village, and we all need all the help we can get!
My children are all grown, but it was even a thing back then. Kids figure out a way to create whatever they want to create. I think this is a valuable post for parents with kids of a certain age. Thank God I’m past it!
It must be a relief Nicki…we look forward to being past it, too!
Wow. So scary.Glad you guys are promoting awareness!
Thank you Cara Lyn. We really want to do our part to make sure that parents know how important this is.
This is why my aunt always says “little kids, little problems - be happy!” I know you are both excellent parents. Thanks for spreading the knowledge!
OMG, Lisa’s MIL says that, too. And it is SO TRUE! I think about the things that I used to worry and laugh about how naive I really was!
Kids will always find something new to get high on. It’s crazy. I almost wish for this very reason we would legalize MJ. At least with that, we know what we’re getting into. Whippits, Freon, cough medicine, markers, something in the air conditioners, glue… every generation has their nasty drug. So much to stay on top of! The best thing we can do is educate our kids on the dangers of drugs. I saw a movie in the 7th grade that was about a 13 year old girl who got into a druggie crowd. She started stealing and getting in trouble. Then one day she OD’d on cocaine and died from heart failure. I can assure you, I had NO interest in drugs from then on. The movie Trainspotting had a similar effect on me.
I totally remember seeing that movie, too! And it absolutely kept me from EVER wanting to try drugs. We do need to keep talking to our children. And sharing images with them, even if they are scary to drive home the point.
Being a parent is sure a lot of work. You poor guys, it never stops for you does it?
It never stops. Even when they are grow we think.
Yikes - scary thought and definitely something that I need to stay on top of! Never would have thought of this one.
My question - how do kids come up with all this stuff?!
A couple of years ago when I was getting my hair done, a mom of a teen-age girl told me that the current trend with girls was soaking tampons (clean ones) in vodka and then inserting them (the normal way) - quick way to getting completely drunk. Why?!
I am honestly FLOORED at the the tampon thing Kim. That is just so frightening in every way. And I agree with you completely…how do kids think of these things?
I’ve heard about this. Kids are finding more creative ways to get a high. It is so scary thinking about everything we have to protect our kids from, especially things like OTC meds that are so easy to obtain.
We agree completely Miranda. There is so much we need to think about it, and this topic is too important to ignore.
This is a very scary and yet incredibly important topic. My respect goes out to all parents of teens, because that is certainly not an easy job!
Totally perfectly stated Kristen.
I remember as a kid my parents talking about kids huffing rubber cement. They weren’t telling us not to (I was probably only about 8) just discussing it with eachother around us. That kind of exposure worked for me so well, not necessarily a hard sit-down talk, just always included in these kinds of talks.
I remember learning about rubber cement, too Robin. And I remember when it disappeared from schools for that very reason. And I could not agree with you about the way to talk with your children.
What a great post and great info! I love that I have an open line and great relationship with my daughter, but you can never be really careful can you? Peer pressure can be a big issue. Thanks for the info!
Peer pressure can be a really big issue…that is why, like you said, having an open line and good communication is so important.
So, so glad my two are beyond this attractive little “pick me up.” Chillingly scary.
Chillingly scary is the perfect description Kelly.
Excellent information… such a hard thing to think about with my younger kids- but it is critical to have awareness and knowledge about ALL drugs and any risk available to our children.
Thanks for sharing this girls!! XO
So true Chris. It is really scary to imagine our younger children even needing this information, but they do.
I knew about this but ha no idea the statistics were this high. Thank you so much for sharing. Every parent needs to know about this.
It is staggering, right? We had no idea about the stats either. You are so right about how important this topic is for every parent.
Such an important discussion we need to have! Thanks for sharing…and let us know how your talk goes!
We will definitely keep you all posted. Lisa started with her teenage son last night and said they had a very good conversation.
I still remember being at a party in high school when someone there offered me some prescription drugs to get high. Thankfully I always had the good sense to turn down every type of drug abuse. But it still left an impression on me. Thanks for getting the word out on this dangerous new trend.
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