Over the past six years, hospitals have seen a nearly fifty percent increase in cough syrup related visits. Dextromethorphan , a common ingredient found in over the counter cough syrups, is being held responsible for those visits.
As a result of the increased abuse, the FDA is considering legislation to regulate the access and distribution of such medicines containing Dextromethorphan, a step which is causing many leading drug manufacturers much angst.
“When we hear of statistics regarding abuse of easily accessible medications, we’re certainly concerned,” remarks a spokesperson for Mountainside
Drug Rehab and Alcohol Treatment Center. “And the reason for our concern isn’t just because of the particular substance being abused. There’s a far greater concern for what the abuse of such a medication can lead to. For example, marijuana has always been considered a gateway drug; that is, a drug that opens the door to the use and abuse of more dangerous, illicit drugs. There is the fear that something as easily accessible as a cough syrup could lead to the same result: a move towards drugs that will produce a greater sense of euphoria and cause harm. Many times young adults will think that if this cough medicine makes them feel a little high, imagine what narcotics or heroin will make them feel like, and thus begins the cycle of abuse. Here we have a medication that most households all over America have in their medicine cabinets: a simple cough medicine. It’s disheartening that individuals can find ways to abuse even the most common substances and turn them into something dangerous and, potentially, life-threatening.”
Abuse of commonly found household medications continues to rise despite the efforts of legislation to curtail such abuse. Many law lobbying constituents consider tighter drug regulations ineffective in combating America’s growing drug problem and, instead, propose funding for community-based drug abuse and prevention education programs.
If you suspect that your teenager has a problem with abuse of over-the-counter medications, Mountainside Drug Rehab and Alcohol Treatment Center can help.
The compassionate, caring treatment team at Mountainside Drug Rehab and Alcohol Treatment Center is comprised of licensed and certified counselors and social workers as well as an on-staff Nurse Practitioner and a Registered Nurse, both of whom have specializations and extensive experience in drug addiction and alcohol treatment. For clients who may have psychiatric issues and/or a dual diagnosis, Mountainside provides the services of a Psychiatrist who also has specialization in addictions. As a result of their unique, innovative approaches to addiction treatment over the past 12 years, Mountainside has become the model for the addiction treatment field.
The program, along with its professional addiction treatment team, has earned national recognition and resulted in Mountainside being invited to Washington by the White House to meet with the White House Drug Czar, John P. Waters, for an in-depth meeting on what makes its program so successful. These accolades did not go unnoticed within the addiction treatment field and resulted in the adoption by many throughout the country of a more holistic approach to drug addiction treatment.
If you or someone you love is addicted to drugs or alcohol, or if you have any questions, please contact Mountainside
Drug Rehab and Alcohol Treatment Center for a confidential inquiry at 800-762-5433.
