Cough Syrup Abuse; What Parents Need to Know

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Cough Syrup Abuse; What Parents Need to Know Cough Syrup Abuse; What Parents Need to Know by Christian Shire

The internet has changed all of our lives, and mostly for the better, but it has opened up a lot of access to information, and this information can be sometimes used in way parents don?t appreciate.

Teens can now access an enormous resource body on drugs and intoxication; how to get high, what you can use, and what steps exactly to take. Teens can even buy controlled prescription medications easily over the internet, and all without any need for a scrip or visit to the doctor. The greatest danger to your teens may no longer be the dealer on the corner, but the computer in the bedroom.

But kids don?t even need to order potent pills off of the internet to get high, since commonly available and over the counter medications offer them extremely potent intoxication, and are as easy to get as the neighborhood drug store.

Kids' posses great expertise about over the counter drug use and abuse, yet sadly parents do not show nearly the same level of awareness, and only one in three parents ever even speaks to their kids about the dangers of over the counter drug abuse.

What are the risks?

Drugs like heroin and cocaine may scare a lot of kids unsure about experimentation, but a bottle of cough syrup from the pharmacy presents as a far less intimidating choice for a party. Unfortunately, although these drugs are readily and easily available, abuse of over the counter drugs is not safer than the abuse of illicit drugs, and addiction, liver and organ disease, heart disease, mental disorders and even death are all real possibilities with chronic and even acute over the counter drug abuse.

While not as addictive as prescription pharmaceuticals, frequent use of over the counter medications to get high can lead to both physical and psychological dependency, and with dependency a need for professional drug treatment and a lengthy detox.

Parents need to get educated as to the real risks, educated as to what kids are using and abusing these days, and have a real heartfelt talk with their teens explaining the dangers of over the counter drug abuse.

Be aware

Be aware of time and activities on the internet, be aware of the contents of your medicine cabinet, and realize that finding any form of over the counter drug evidence very likely indicates a problem, no matter how it's explained away.

Kids do not carry a bottle of cough syrup in their school bag, unless they are getting high.

Be on the lookout for a diminished appetite, abnormal sleeping patterns, irritability or moodiness, a sudden change in appearance, a drop in school performance or a sudden change of friends.

Teens change dramatically throughout the adolescent years, but at the core they remain who and what they are, and parents should not let seemingly drastic changes pass by un-scrutinized.

If you need help making a decision about treatment visit Over the Counter Addiction to read more. Read the daily addiction blog Addiction Treatment Blog for stories of recovery and the latest news on treatment options.

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