Teen Drug Abuse: Old News But New Products To Get High

In the olden days of the 60s and 70s we thought of our dads liquor cabinet if we wanted to catch a high. Today, its the home medicine cabinet or the kitchen pantry. What we used to use to cook and bake with are now things our teens can use to alter their minds. More than 1000 household goods can be used now by teens to get high. Some of them are: Correction fluid Felt tip markers Spray paint Hair spray Whipping crme aerosols Deodorant spray Air freshener Butane Glues Gasoline Household cleaners Air cans to clean keyboards

But a few other kitchen items may surprise you and teen can go into grocery market and buy these things with ease.

Cough Syrup
Accessibly cheap over the counter, cough syrup has been the go-to drug for a quick high for years. This kind of high is referred to as robo-tripping, causing a euphoric feeling that can induce hallucinations. The FDA considered making cough syrup prescription only in 1210, but decided against it. When robo-tripping, some users depict different plateaus ranging from mild alterations of sound and color to visional hallucinations, out-of-body dissociative feelings, and loss of motor control, confusion, slurred speech, extremity numbness, disorientation, loss of coordination, nausea and vomiting, rapid heartbeat, and death. Robo-tripping comes from the name of Robotussin cough syrup with dextromethorphan , the most commonly used syrup that teens chug to get high.

One Teens Experience

From Robo-tripping I would get nauseous to the point where I couldnt even stand up. The nausea that was the major part of it the nausea was horrible. I would actually start foaming its so gross to say but I would get sick and start foaming from the mouth. Dizzy, nauseous, headaches such a horrible headache, sensitivity to the light, I couldnt even go outside it was just all

together a horrible feeling that you would not want to do again. When I was Robo-tripping I thought I was chosen from God or something I was just out of my mind. I was just ruining myself. There were many times I came to the realization that I needed to stop. The first one is when I flipped over my car I was under the influence. After that I was laying in the hospital and I was still tripping a little bit and I was like, This has got to stop. The whole reason why this happened was because I was tripping.

Hand Sanitizer
The use of hand sanitizers were a boon to help keep us from getting colds and flu so easily. But now our kids have found another use for it. When ingested straight from the bottle, or after using salt to separate the sanitizing agent from the alcohol, it gives a high. It is suggested that parents buy the foam-type sanitizers that are more difficult to extract the alcohol from.

Gummy Bears
These chewy little bears have become a huge favorite with our kids. After soaking them in vodka, teens eat them by the handfuls. This is especially harmful because kids have no idea how much alcohol they are actually consuming and can lead to alcohol poisoning.

Nutmeg
A spice usually associated with holiday season parties can cause another sort of buzz. Nutmeg holds a psychoactive chemical called myristicin, which is similar to mescaline, amphetamine, and Ecstasy. Teens who consume a whole grated nutmeg or more will hallucinate.

Cinnamon
A person swallows a tablespoon of cinnamon with no water, and gagging, spitting, and coughing begin. Teens get together with containers of cinnamon and call it the cinnamon challenge. While not a drug, Dr. Russell Migita, clinical director of Emergency Services at Seattle Childrens Hospital, said that the cinnamon could cause inflammation in the lungs, or in extreme cases, a collapsed lung from an extreme coughing fit. Kids who exploit household products usually sniff them via the nose or mouth, both by snorting vapors from the containers or spraying aerosols straight into the mouth or nose. They can also huff these things by soaking rags or towels, pressing the rags to their mouth, and inhaling deeply. Another technique is bagging, where the fumes from the substances are poured into paper or plastic bags and inhaled. Users continue to huff or sniff in order to draw out the high. This can lead to loss of consciousness and even death (Mayo Clinic.com). Teenagers can die anytime they mistreat household products even if its the first time. This is called Sudden Sniffing Death Syndrome. If your teen doesnt die, he/she may suffer kidney failure or become brain damaged.

Parents need to be aware of warning sign such as: Loss of appetite Signs of paint or other products on the childs clothing or breath Missing household products Signs of products on face or fingers Glassy or glazed eyes Changes in behavior or mood

Next time, we will talk about WHY our kids have a proclivity to abuse drugs and household products to the point of risking their wellbeing and lives. Your comments and experiences are welcome.