15 Signs Your Teen Might Be Abusing Over-the-Counter Medicine

According to the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration, about 3.1 million persons between 12 and 25 years of age (5.3 percent) reported using OTC cough and cold medications to get high.

Among teens, one of the most popular choices is medication containing Dextromethorphan (DXM), found in more than 140 over-the-counter cough and cold medications. DXM can cause psychoactive effects and produce a high when taken in large doses.

Aside from those effects, DXM can also cause distorted vision, dizziness, nausea, vomiting, confusion, slurred speech, loss of motor skills, hallucinations, and seizures. There have also been several teens who have died from overdosing on DXM and at least one murder linked to the drug.

OTC drugs containing DXM aren’t the only ones. Laxatives and diet pills are also popular.

Unfortunately, the ingredients in these pills can cause side effects such as high blood pressure, kidney problems, dehydration, and heart failure, especially when taken in large doses or over a long time.

Motion sickness pills, such as Dramamine, can cause hallucinations when taken excessively. Sleep aids like Tylenol PM, Excedrin PM, and Sominex can disrupt regular sleep patterns when abused. They can cause extreme drowsiness, which can lead to narcolepsy.

Warning Signs to Watch

Teens perceive OTC drugs as safe. Many adolescents incorrectly think these drugs have less risk and fewer side effects than street drugs. However, these so-called “safe” drugs can be just as dangerous and addictive.

If you think your teenager may be abusing OTC drugs, look for warning signs such as:

1. Collection of medicine bottles in easy-to-reach locations
2. Empty medicine bottles in the trash
3. Mood swings or a personality shift
4. Periods of intoxication, including slurred speech, impaired motor coordination, and cognitive abilities
5. Memory lapses
6. A drop in school or workplace productivity
7. Withdrawal from social situations
8. Lack of interest in activities previously enjoyed
9. Changes in physical appearances, such as weight fluctuations
10. Differences in sleep patterns
11. Changes in appetite
12. Strange packages in the mail, which are OTC medications ordered online
13. The disappearance of OTC medications from your medicine cabinet
14. Regular large purchases of cough or cold medications when not medically necessary
15. Medicinal smell or odor on breath or clothing