Comments on: The Five Moms and Dr. Drew Take Cough Medicine Abuse to Capitol Hill http://www.morningsidemom.com/2009/10/22/the-five-moms-and-dr-drew-take-cough-medicine-abuse-to-capitol-hill/ Parenting, politics, pondering and panicking about it all. Mon, 15 Mar 2010 03:20:12 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.9.1 hourly 1 By: Insurance Quotes Health Watch http://www.morningsidemom.com/2009/10/22/the-five-moms-and-dr-drew-take-cough-medicine-abuse-to-capitol-hill/comment-page-1/#comment-10741 Insurance Quotes Health Watch Fri, 22 Jan 2010 22:21:59 +0000 http://www.morningsidemom.com/?p=2355#comment-10741 Yep, over the years, teens discovered that they still could get high by taking large doses of any OTC medicine containing dextromethorphan (also called DXM). Dextromethorphan-containing products — tablets, capsules, gel caps, lozenges, and syrups — are labeled DM, cough suppressant, or Tuss (or contain "tuss" in the title). Yep, over the years, teens discovered that they still could get high by taking large doses of any OTC medicine containing dextromethorphan (also called DXM). Dextromethorphan-containing products — tablets, capsules, gel caps, lozenges, and syrups — are labeled DM, cough suppressant, or Tuss (or contain “tuss” in the title).

]]> By: Janice (5 Minutes for Mom) http://www.morningsidemom.com/2009/10/22/the-five-moms-and-dr-drew-take-cough-medicine-abuse-to-capitol-hill/comment-page-1/#comment-8266 Janice (5 Minutes for Mom) Mon, 09 Nov 2009 06:51:16 +0000 http://www.morningsidemom.com/?p=2355#comment-8266 WOW girl - this was one comprehensive post! What a fantastic recap! It was wonderful getting to know you - I just wished we lived closer to each other! WOW girl – this was one comprehensive post! What a fantastic recap!

It was wonderful getting to know you – I just wished we lived closer to each other!

]]> By: Chris http://www.morningsidemom.com/2009/10/22/the-five-moms-and-dr-drew-take-cough-medicine-abuse-to-capitol-hill/comment-page-1/#comment-8060 Chris Wed, 04 Nov 2009 19:00:57 +0000 http://www.morningsidemom.com/?p=2355#comment-8060 Every law enforcement officer that I've ever met, across several states, knows about Dextromethorphan. tcmom - My only point is that the entirety of the focus should be put on educating others about it, rather than spending time trying to get the sale of it restricted, since that isn't going to do anything other than cause more problems. And as for "how dangerous" it is to abuse, even if you use dextromethorphan in combination with guaifenesin, it IS less dangerous than other drugs that your teen could be out using. And using dextromethorphan by itself makes it even safer -- almost the marijuana of hallucinogens. All the hype that has been spread over Olney's lesions and what not is unsubstantiated -- there have been 0 cases of Olney's lesions forming in primates. I just think the primary focus should be on educating parents, not only about the potential for abuse, but also how to teach their kids to do it relatively safely if they're going to do it. Parents have talks about how to drink relatively safely with their kids, even if they're going to drink underage. So why not do the same with DXM? Every law enforcement officer that I’ve ever met, across several states, knows about Dextromethorphan.

tcmom – My only point is that the entirety of the focus should be put on educating others about it, rather than spending time trying to get the sale of it restricted, since that isn’t going to do anything other than cause more problems.

And as for “how dangerous” it is to abuse, even if you use dextromethorphan in combination with guaifenesin, it IS less dangerous than other drugs that your teen could be out using. And using dextromethorphan by itself makes it even safer — almost the marijuana of hallucinogens. All the hype that has been spread over Olney’s lesions and what not is unsubstantiated — there have been 0 cases of Olney’s lesions forming in primates.

I just think the primary focus should be on educating parents, not only about the potential for abuse, but also how to teach their kids to do it relatively safely if they’re going to do it. Parents have talks about how to drink relatively safely with their kids, even if they’re going to drink underage. So why not do the same with DXM?

]]> By: Bobbie Caudill http://www.morningsidemom.com/2009/10/22/the-five-moms-and-dr-drew-take-cough-medicine-abuse-to-capitol-hill/comment-page-1/#comment-7548 Bobbie Caudill Tue, 27 Oct 2009 19:11:08 +0000 http://www.morningsidemom.com/?p=2355#comment-7548 I think that dextromethophran should be behind the counter for the pharmacist to despense. It is the big legal drug secret that most law enforcement and parents do not know about. I plan to contact as many state rep in Kentucky as I can to ge something done about this I do not want anyone else to go through the addiction that my son has with this product Bobbie Caudill I think that dextromethophran should be behind the counter for the pharmacist to despense. It is the big legal drug secret that most law enforcement and parents do not know about. I plan to contact as many state rep in Kentucky as I can to ge something done about this I do not want anyone else to go through the addiction that my son has with this product Bobbie Caudill

]]> By: tcmom http://www.morningsidemom.com/2009/10/22/the-five-moms-and-dr-drew-take-cough-medicine-abuse-to-capitol-hill/comment-page-1/#comment-7530 tcmom Tue, 27 Oct 2009 12:56:53 +0000 http://www.morningsidemom.com/?p=2355#comment-7530 Chris - During my time with the Five Moms, their priority above all else was educating parents about this abuse. Whether cough medicine is restricted to those 18 and over or not, cough medicine is everywhere and readily available in every home. Educating parents that this kind of abuse is happening is the most important portion of this initiative. Teens can get their hands on whatever they want - legal or not. But if they have had open conversations with their parents about how dangerous abusing this medication is, maybe, hopefully, they will be less likely to try it for a quick high or assume its safer to abuse because it can be bought over the counter. Chris – During my time with the Five Moms, their priority above all else was educating parents about this abuse. Whether cough medicine is restricted to those 18 and over or not, cough medicine is everywhere and readily available in every home. Educating parents that this kind of abuse is happening is the most important portion of this initiative. Teens can get their hands on whatever they want – legal or not. But if they have had open conversations with their parents about how dangerous abusing this medication is, maybe, hopefully, they will be less likely to try it for a quick high or assume its safer to abuse because it can be bought over the counter.

]]> By: Chris http://www.morningsidemom.com/2009/10/22/the-five-moms-and-dr-drew-take-cough-medicine-abuse-to-capitol-hill/comment-page-1/#comment-7497 Chris Tue, 27 Oct 2009 00:41:11 +0000 http://www.morningsidemom.com/?p=2355#comment-7497 While I support the idea of educating parents about the subject, trying to ban the sale to people under 18 is by far one of the stupidest things you can do. I've known many teenagers in my life who have been forced to take care of their younger siblings -- which means, when their younger siblings get a bad cough, they are the ones to go to the store to get cough medicine for them. Why are the teenagers forced to do this? Either because their parents are disabled or their parents are horrible parents. So you're suggesting taking away these kids' only way to get cough medicine for their family, all because some parents haven't successfully taught their children the ideas of responsibility and consequences to their actions. It's been mentioned before and it will likely be mentioned again: If your children have the $5 to $10 to spend on every bottle of cough medicine they use, then there's your first problem. Secondly, if your children don't have the money, but are getting it anyways, then you've got a bigger problem. The only thing raising the restriction will do is make those who have a legitimate use for cough medicine suffer through a major inconvenience, while everyone else will just be forced to get it through illegal means. You're just promoting crime by trying to pass this initiative. Those over 18 will take advantage of the fact that those under 18 can't buy it by selling it to them for higher prices. It's the exact same thing when it comes to alcohol and people under 21. The restrictions placed on alcohol sales has done nothing except get kids to buy their alcohol from other people. I swear. How stupid can you be? While I support the idea of educating parents about the subject, trying to ban the sale to people under 18 is by far one of the stupidest things you can do.

I’ve known many teenagers in my life who have been forced to take care of their younger siblings — which means, when their younger siblings get a bad cough, they are the ones to go to the store to get cough medicine for them. Why are the teenagers forced to do this? Either because their parents are disabled or their parents are horrible parents.

So you’re suggesting taking away these kids’ only way to get cough medicine for their family, all because some parents haven’t successfully taught their children the ideas of responsibility and consequences to their actions.

It’s been mentioned before and it will likely be mentioned again: If your children have the $5 to $10 to spend on every bottle of cough medicine they use, then there’s your first problem. Secondly, if your children don’t have the money, but are getting it anyways, then you’ve got a bigger problem.

The only thing raising the restriction will do is make those who have a legitimate use for cough medicine suffer through a major inconvenience, while everyone else will just be forced to get it through illegal means.

You’re just promoting crime by trying to pass this initiative. Those over 18 will take advantage of the fact that those under 18 can’t buy it by selling it to them for higher prices. It’s the exact same thing when it comes to alcohol and people under 21. The restrictions placed on alcohol sales has done nothing except get kids to buy their alcohol from other people.

I swear. How stupid can you be?

]]> By: Bridget (@bcyberchondriac) http://www.morningsidemom.com/2009/10/22/the-five-moms-and-dr-drew-take-cough-medicine-abuse-to-capitol-hill/comment-page-1/#comment-7494 Bridget (@bcyberchondriac) Tue, 27 Oct 2009 00:02:07 +0000 http://www.morningsidemom.com/?p=2355#comment-7494 I admire any effort to get the issue of addiction out of the closet. And, as you say ,Caroline, the issue of abusing "legal" drugs is what we often overlook. Did anyone know that you can snort Ritalin (the ADHD med of choice)? Like a lot of it? And get a big buzz? Scary. I admire any effort to get the issue of addiction out of the closet. And, as you say ,Caroline, the issue of abusing “legal” drugs is what we often overlook.
Did anyone know that you can snort Ritalin (the ADHD med of choice)? Like a lot of it? And get a big buzz?
Scary.

]]> By: Hilda Morales-Roybal http://www.morningsidemom.com/2009/10/22/the-five-moms-and-dr-drew-take-cough-medicine-abuse-to-capitol-hill/comment-page-1/#comment-7431 Hilda Morales-Roybal Mon, 26 Oct 2009 01:55:11 +0000 http://www.morningsidemom.com/?p=2355#comment-7431 Caroline, Wow, so why are you not working at a Newspaper or Magazine? I simply loved your coverage of "our" trip to the capitol. It was an amazing day and a half and we loved meeting you along with Jenn and Janice. Thank you for supporting us and I hope that CHPA keeps us working together to keep the wheels rolling for stopmedicineabuse.org and Fivemoms.com Sincerley, Hilda Caroline,

Wow, so why are you not working at a Newspaper or Magazine? I simply loved your coverage of “our” trip to the capitol. It was an amazing day and a half and we loved meeting you along with Jenn and Janice.

Thank you for supporting us and I hope that CHPA keeps us working together to keep the wheels rolling for stopmedicineabuse.org and Fivemoms.com

Sincerley,
Hilda

]]> By: Shan D. http://www.morningsidemom.com/2009/10/22/the-five-moms-and-dr-drew-take-cough-medicine-abuse-to-capitol-hill/comment-page-1/#comment-7373 Shan D. Sat, 24 Oct 2009 04:31:42 +0000 http://www.morningsidemom.com/?p=2355#comment-7373 So proud of my friend. So proud of my friend.

]]> By: Kathy T. http://www.morningsidemom.com/2009/10/22/the-five-moms-and-dr-drew-take-cough-medicine-abuse-to-capitol-hill/comment-page-1/#comment-7361 Kathy T. Fri, 23 Oct 2009 16:48:13 +0000 http://www.morningsidemom.com/?p=2355#comment-7361 Caroline, I just wrote about this on Love Shak, Baby. Please let me know if the write-up is okay. Thank you for sharing this and giving me the opportunity to also get the word out. Kathy Caroline, I just wrote about this on Love Shak, Baby. Please let me know if the write-up is okay. Thank you for sharing this and giving me the opportunity to also get the word out. Kathy

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