Skittling, the Lethal Fad among Teens

If you thought the fight against drug abuse is limited to illegal substances such as marijuana, ecstasy, phencyclidine hydrochloride (PCP), etc. Think again. When you sit down to talk to your kids about drug abuse, you may want to add cough medicine to your list of no-no's.

Robitussin, Coricidin, Nyquil, Vicks, even some generic brands, these drugs are legal and sold over-the-counter everywhere. Cough and cold medications containing Dextromethorphan (DXM) are chemically related to codeine and is a component in over 140 non-prescription over-the -counter (OTC) cough and cold medications in forms of cough drops, syrup and tablets.

The use of Robitussin and Coricidin are the most popular among teenagers and young adults looking for a cheap high. "Skittling" or "Robotripping" is a growing trend among 13-19 year olds and some cases are even being seen in middle school. Availability of the OTC drugs may be the reason it has become so popular. It is easy to obtain through any store, gas station or through the Internet. They are cheap to purchase and easy to steal.

DXM is safe in the recommended doses you see on the label to treat coughs and colds, but in large doses, such as 100 mg or more can cause hallucinations, impaired judgement, even seizures. In some cases, overdoses and deaths have occurred when caregivers have treated small children with inappropriate doses of cold medicine containing DXM.

Street names are adapted from the similar appearance to candy or obvious slang: Skittles, Red Devils, Robo, Triple C, Poor man's PCP, Dex, Tuss, DXM. The high is called "robotripping" referring to taking large amounts of Robitussin and "skittling" when ingesting large amounts of Coricidin, that also contains an antihistamine called chlorpheniramine (akas Triple C's). Effects are similar to alcohol intoxication and can increase heart rate and blood pressure.

An on-line survey showed that only 1 in 10 people were aware of Skittling

This lack of awareness may be the reason DXM abuse has more than doubled since last year. All across the country, emergency room doctors have been reporting an increasing amount of overdose cases due to DXM abuse. In some cases, death had occurred.

Parents should be aware of signs to look for in their children such as: agitation, drowsiness, confusion, blurred vision, impaired judgement, dizziness, paranoia, excessive sweating, slurred speech, seizures, fever, nausea, vomiting, itchiness, lethargy, pupil dilation, hot and cold flashes, oedema, hypertension, hallucinations and skin rashes. Long term problems include: panic attacks, psychotic break downs, depression, high blood pressure, mania, liver, heart, central nervous centre damage and sometimes coma.

Check your medicine cabinet and know what is in there, if anything is missing find out why. Look for these DXM products or empty bottles in jackets, backpacks, purses, bedroom, trash, or even the car if your teen drives. Do not ignore the signs or assume it is only a phase, this phase can kill. Parents are encouraged to sit down and talk to you children about the potentially deadly affects of OTC medications.


Contributed by:Donna M. Shelton