subject: Signs Of Substance Abuse [print this page] Drug dependency can come in many forms and widely differing substances. Aside from being dependent on illegal drugs and household chemicals, there is currently an affordable option: cough syrup, as well as over the counter medications, both of which can be obtained rather legitimately. The sad thing regarding it is that the young people addicted to these drugs are abusing a substance that was initially intended to heal disease and alleviate pain.
Cough syrup contains codeine, very popularly used for pain killer purposes. It could be extracted from opium or synthesized from morphine, both of which are addictive substances on their own. Prescription-grade cough syrup contains higher concentrations of this drug.
A common effect of the abuse of cough syrup is an altered state of mind and sedation or sleep of the abuser, triggering numbness. Users may easily go overboard as well, with overdose signs and symptoms that are similar to other opiates. Some drugs also contain antihistamines that may cause another sedative result.
Promethazine is also coupled with codeine to fight cough, but this is also a chemical that, on its own, may also trigger strong side effects in the abuser. It is a sedative drug that brings about inhibited function in terms of eyesight, and being slowed and having slurred speech too. Users describe this feeling as being "zazzed", when everything around you goes slowly.
Codeine in cough syrup is generally taken in a form known as Purple Drank. The moniker originates from its color, which often ranges from purple to pink depending on the cough syrup used and the ratio of mixing it with other drinks like sodas.
This practice first gained influence in the southern states, and hip-hop artists popularized its use with the wider public by including it in their songs. Results include increased auditory sensations and visible stimuli, which brings about a feeling of being disconnected and odd, erratic behavior.
One of the foremost dangers of robitussin is how easy an individual may get the materials, considering that it's legally purchased in drugstores. Yet another scary factor is how inexpensively it can be obtained, and taking into consideration the costs for illegal medications, this might seem like a no-brainer for many teens on limited budgets seeking to get high.
A few bucksis actually all it requires to get high. The drug of choice for almost all of the youth is Dextromorphan, often known as DXM, a drug found in numerous cough syrup preparations as well. This is just what is commonly known as "Skittles" in underground terminology, and may even cause heart palpitations if it's abused. Medicine in tablet form consists of much bigger quantities of DXM; therefore an identical result of consuming considerable amounts of syrup can be duplicated just by a couple of pills.
