By Robin Ruehlen
C & G Staff Writer

TROY — Although most parents know the dangers illegal drugs pose to their children, they may not be aware of the risks lurking in the medicine cabinet.

The Troy Community Coalition will hold a town hall meeting, A Dose of Prevention, on Aug. 29 in order to educate parents and their kids about the consequences of abusing everyday cold medicines — like the dextromethorphan in cough medicine — to get high.

“We know from prior experience that education is the most effective way to keep kids from abusing all types of substances, including over-the-counter medications,” said TCC Executive Director Ann Comiskey.

The Community Anti-Drug Coalition of America estimates 2.4 million teens have abused cough medicine to get high — some as early as the eighth-grade.

Dr. Frank McGeorge, an emergency room physician at Beaumont Hospital in Royal Oak, said teens choose cough medicine because it is readily available in stores and their own homes.

“A handful of pharmacies have moved it behind the counter and keep track of how many bottles are purchased by whom, but there’s still a decent potential for abuse,” he said.

“Often, teens will take 10 to 20 times the normal dose in order to get a buzz, which can approach levels of toxicity.”

At extreme doses, the medicine can cause hallucinations, lightheadedness, heart problems, vomiting, seizures and loss of consciousness.

McGeorge said teens have died from passing out after an overdose, vomiting and aspirating stomach material into their lungs.

“The most common way it kills is changing one’s mental status and causing vomiting, or triggering a seizure,” he said.

“Lots of times, these medications can also lead you to do stupid things or put yourself in dangerous situations.”    

According to a 2006 CADCA survey, only 8 percent of parents are aware young people abuse cough medicine, and 75 percent said they don’t talk to their children about it.

“The best method of prevention is simply parenting — knowing your child and talking to them frankly about the risks and why you as a parent who loves them doesn’t want them to take that risk,” McGeorge said.

“Kids have a sense of invincibility and they feel like they can get away with things, and these behaviors tend to escalate and they move on to bigger risks until something very bad happens.”

He recommends keeping control of cold and cough medicines in the home, and knowing how many pills are being used.

“If you find your child acting bizarrely, look into it. Look for empty bottles of cough suppressant in their garbage. Some people may think they’re invading kids’ privacy by doing that, but your role is to prevent them from doing something harmful,” he said.

A Dose of Prevention will be held from 8:30-11:30 a.m. Aug. 29 in the Troy School District Services building boardroom. For more information about the program, or about cough medicine abuse in general, call the Troy Community Coalition at (248) 823-5088.

You can reach Robin Ruehlen at rruehlen@candgnews.com or (586) 279-1105.