|
FTA Drug & Alcohol Regulation Updates Issue 35, page 6 |
FOR YOUR INFORMATION |
| Abuse of Cough and Cold Medicine Increasing |
Dextromethorphan (DXM) is a cough suppressant found in over 140 cough and
cold medications and is available without a prescription. The cough
suppressant is found in popular caplet and liquid form in Over-the-Counter
(OTC) medications such as NyQuil® Products, Coricidin® Products and
Robitussin® Products. When taken as recommended, DXM is generally safe. When taken in very large doses, DXM can produce a high or “out-of-body” experience similar to the hallucinogenic effects caused by phencyclidine (PCP). It also has the potential to impair judgment and mental functioning, and may result in loss of coordination, blurred vision, dizziness, nausea, hot flashes, hallucinations, rapid heartbeat, brain damage, seizure, and death. Side effects can be worse when the OTC consumed has other active ingredients such as pseudoephedrine, acetaminophen, antihistamines, expectorants or alcohol. The Substance Abuse and Mental Health Administration’s (SAMHSA) National Survey on Drug Use and Health found that in 2006 about 3.1 million persons aged 12 to 25 had used cough and cold medication to get high. The survey did not address the use by persons older than 25 as adolescents and young adults are thought to have the highest rates of abuse of such medications. According to the SAMHSA report, the level of abuse of these drugs is comparable to levels of use of LSD, methamphetamine, or ecstasy in this age group. Abuse of DXM, however, is not limited to young people. A review of Emergency Room visits in 2004 reported by SAMHSA’s Drug Abuse Warning Network indicated that 26% of emergency room visits for the non-medical use of DXM were made by people between 21 and 34 years old and an additional 21% were made by persons 35 years or older. For individuals over 20, abuse of DXM resulted in 2.6 visits per 100,000 in population. Street names for DXM include Candy, C-C-C, Dex, DM, Drex, Red Devils, Robo, Rojo, Skittles, Tussin, Velvet, and Vitamin D; names for DXM abuse include Dexing, Robotripping, and Robodosing. Your employee training program should address the risks of OTCs and what constitutes responsible use. Employees should know how to read and follow label directions and should be warned not to use OTCs for non-medical purposes. |
| Kibbles & Bits? |
 Kibbles
and Bits and Pineapple are two street names for Ritalin®, a commonly
prescribed medication used to treat attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder
(ADHD) for children and occasionally prescribed for treating narcolepsy. The
medication is a stimulant stronger than caffeine, but less potent than
amphetamines when taken as prescribed.However, when abused, this central nervous system stimulant can be very powerful with serious side effects resembling the stimulant characteristics of cocaine. Ritalin® is prescribed in pill form, but can be injected, snorted, or swallowed in large amounts. This drug is abused to suppress appetite, prolong periods without sleep, increase focus and attentiveness, and to obtain a sense of euphoria. Signs of use include dilated pupils, sweating, dry mouth, flushed skin, increased energy, and dangerously high body temperature. Ritalin® is a Schedule II narcotic, and as such is considered to have a high potential for abuse and addiction. According to The Partnership for a Drug-Free America, short term effects can include nervousness and insomnia, loss of appetite, nausea and vomiting, dizziness, palpitations, headaches, changes in heart rate and blood pressure, skin rashes and itching, abdominal pain, weight loss, digestive problems, toxic psychosis, psychotic episodes, drug dependence syndrome, and severe depression upon withdrawal. Long term effects can include anxiety, restlessness, paranoia, hallucinations, delusions, irregular heartbeat, tremors, and loss of appetite. Individuals in the transportation industry have been found to abuse this drug to stay awake for extended periods of time. Ritalin® is commonly obtained from family members or friends that have valid prescriptions for the medication. Transportation professionals need to be aware of the dangers associated with this drug and alternative methods for dealing with fatigue. Abuse of stimulants can be a dangerous proposition for safety-sensitive employees. |
