Since its inception, the Internet has had a great impact on our daily lives. With the quick click of a mouse, we can go shopping, pay our bills, and connect with people around the world.The Internet also helps teens, providing them with access to online encyclopedias and other resources that can help with their homework.

But did you know that the Internet also educates kids about how to abuse alcohol and other drugs? When it comes to over-the-counter (OTC) cough medicine abuse, the Internet is a dangerous place for young people, giving them access to web sites that advocate and teach this type of behavior.

 

 

Dextromethorphan (DXM) Web Sites

Hundreds of web sites and online communities dangerously promote the abuse of dextromethorphan-containing products to get high. These sites provide guides on how to achieve an ecstasy-like high based on a user’s height and weight; how to combine it with other drugs; and what effects are to be expected at specific dosage levels.

While we may not be able to shut down the web sites, just knowing about them and the content they provide is the first step towards addressing the harm they cause.

 

Social Networking Sites

Web sites promoting DXM abuse are not the only online sources providing dangerous content to kids. Social networking sites such as MySpace, YouTube, LiveJournal,
and Facebook are filled with detailed instructions, user conversations, and videos of DXM abuse. Users blog and post videos about specific plans to take DXM, how and when they will take it, and even recount abuse experiences. Essentially, they are actively
comparing notes, exchanging approaches, and promoting abuse.

 

Online Sale of Pure DXM

Some web sites are also serving as dangerous online drug dealers. Young people can log-on to specific sites and purchase bulk amounts of the pure, unfinished dextromethorphan ingredient with only a credit card or PayPal account and shipping address. In January 2005, three teens died of overdoses from DXM purchased online. Both Congress and some states have introduced legislation banning the online sale of this raw dextromethorphan to teens. Despite these efforts, these sites still exist and pose a threat to our teens.

We need to sound the alarm that dextromethorphan abuse is being perpetuated by these Internet predators, and it is critical that we monitor these sites in order to curb their influence. For those of us on the frontlines, we can use this awareness to help prevent abuse and keep our future generations safe.

 

Things You Can Do

• Look closer: Check out the web sites for yourself. Learn what is out there so you can gain a better understanding of how pervasive this problem is. Search terms include “Robotripping” or “Skittles” as well as other slang terms listed in this toolkit. Go to YouTube.com, for example, and put in the key words DXM, DEX, or CCC.
• Work together: Work with your local community anti-drug coalition to support legislation banning the bulk, online sale of raw, unfinished DXM.
• Be aware: If you’re a parent, be on the look-out for packages that have been ordered from the Internet. Note the arrival of unexpected packages, payments by credit card or PayPal. Pay attention to how much time your child is spending on the Internet and the sites they are visiting.

 

Want to Learn More?

Stop Cough Medicine Abuse Programs
Consumer Healthcare Products Association
www.StopMedicineAbuse.org

A Dose of Prevention Toolkit
Community Anti-Drug Coalitions of America, Consumer Healthcare Products Association:
www.doseofprevention.org

What Every Parent Needs to Know about Cough Medicine Abuse
Partnership for a Drug-Free America and Consumer Healthcare Products Association:
www.chpa-info.org/pubs

Cough and Cold Medicine Abuse
kidshealth.org:
www.kidshealth.org/

DXM Stories
Partnership for a Drug-Free America:
www.dxmstories.com

Battling The Over-The-Counter High
Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration: 
http://ncadistore.samhsa.gov/