Cold Medicine May Have Played Role in Dea

[Alfa]

<H1 =line>Cold Medicine May Have</H1>
<H1 =line>Played Role In Teen's Death </H1>

<H2 =Sub>Boy Took Coricidin HBP Before Crossing Highway</H2>
<DIV =posted>POSTED: 5:24 a.m. MDT April 29, 2003</DIV>
<DIV =updated>UPDATED: 10:20 a.m. MDT April 29, 2003


</DIV>
<DIV =Story><B =Dateline>HIGHLANDS RANCH, Colo. -- [/B]A 14-year-old boy killed when he tried to run across C-470 earlier this month had taken an over-the-counter cold medicine that can have the side effects of impairing a person's judgment, coordination and depth perception, investigators say.


Cory Coleman, a freshman at ThunderRidge High School in Highlands Ranch, was hit by two cars as he crossed the highway near Broadway Street on April 5 at about 8:30 p.m.


State Patrol investigators on Monday said Coleman apparently took Coricidin HBP Cough and Cold before his death. Law enforcement and school officials say the medication is known to teenagers as "Triple C" and has gained popularity for its highs that can include hallucinations.


"I know it's out there, and it scares me to death," ThunderRidge principal Mike Lynch said. "I don't think it's an epidemic, but it's definitely a hot topic. Every principal, every school has to deal with this."


Coleman had met some friends at a Highlands Ranch movie theater that Saturday night but left without seeing a film and was trying to cross the divided highway to reach a supermarket, officials said.


Toxicology tests showed the presence of dextromethorphan and chlorpheniramine in Coleman, but the tests cannot conclusively determined that Coleman was under the influence of these chemicals, the Colorado State Patrol said.


Dr. Al Bronstein, medical director of the Rocky Mountain Poison and Drug Center, said the center has fielded 46 calls on Coricidin so far this year, while there were 78 during all of 2002.


ThunderRidge officials have given information about the drug to parents and are having continuing discussions with students, Lynch said.


"We're not going to tolerate anything like that at school, but we're going to try to help you," the principal said. "There are some kids that are hurting out there, and we need to get them help."


In a statement, New Jersey-based Schering-Plough Healthcare Products, which makes Coricidin, said the company recognizes that teenager abuse of dextromethorphan "is a long-standing issue," and it is trying to teach consumers about the dangers of taking more than the recommended dose.


If taken as a recreational drug, the effects of dextromethorphan and chlorpheniramine may last four to six hours. Symptoms of misuse may include diminished depth-perception and cognitive reasoning, increased pulse rate, slightly dilated pupils, dry mouth and decreased coordination, called "sea legs."


Very high doses could result in hallucinations, gastrointestinal problems, bleeding, and even death. </DIV>

[serotonin]

when i read the title i thought the article was about DXM and the DEA. i was freaked .


a really sad, and horrible story though, remember to stay safe.

[dave]

why the hell are kids using the one type of cough medicine that is the most dangerous and stupid???

[sands of time]

Please people... stick to real drugs.

[serotonin]

real drugs?


you must be kidding me... i am sick of tired of people thinking DXM is some kind of "fake" drug because it just so happens to be an excellent cough suppresant, which makes it a good choice to be put in cough medicine. there are tons of legal drugs out there, are you saying that they are not "real" drugs. or is it just DXM? i also wonder have you ever experienced it for yourself?


people ignorance towards DXM (and other "fake" drugs) are what gives them such a bad reputation. in thiscase it was DXM that caused a terrible accident. but whose to say that it couldn't have happend any other drugs?


DXM is a real drug. and IMO all drugs are real drugs. just because it is well known, psychoactive, or any other variable involved doesn't make it a "real" or "fake" drug.


sorry to rant, no bad vibes were ment to be conveyed

[RoboCop]

This is not good, damn dumbass kids, If you are not used to the effects of dxm walking across a busy highway is the dumbest idea I have ever heard. Some people could do it without problem, but with regular users it does not effect judgement like it does to beginners, but I still wouldn't do it. Deaths like that is what happens when people do not research the drugs they are doing, his death was due to ignorance and I don't feel sorry for him. If he knew a damn thing about DXM he would of chose a nice setting, plus he wouldn't of been stupid enough to use CCC's.

"Please people... stick to real drugs."
I take offense to that, this is not the drugs fault. And dxm is a pretty 'real' drug if you ask me. Nutmeg on the other hand I could see you saying that about.

and they called the uncoordination caused by dxm "seawalk"? Never heard of that before, I think they just made it up. Robowalk maybe.

[Pinkavvy]

yeah, dxm is just as much a real drug as acid, coke, or heroin.

and don't blame the drug ... dumber things have happened on the "Real drugs" you support like heroin and cocaine.

[djryand]

Exactly. Don't blame the drug. Blame the stupid, ignorant people who misuse them.

Maybe if the govt. practiced harm reduction and true education we wouldn't have to hear about tragedies like this.

[serotonin]

the best name i have heard for the way people walk on dxm is the roboshuffle. hehehe.

[sands of time]

Originally Posted by serotonin

real drugs?


you must be kidding me... i am sick of tired of people thinking DXM is some kind of "fake" drug because it just so happens to be an excellent cough suppresant, which makes it a good choice to be put in cough medicine. there are tons of legal drugs out there, are you saying that they are not "real" drugs. or is it just DXM? i also wonder have you ever experienced it for yourself?


people ignorance towards DXM (and other "fake" drugs) are what gives them such a bad reputation. in this*case it was DXM that caused a terrible accident. but whose to say that it couldn't have happend any other drugs?*


DXM is a real drug. and IMO all drugs are real drugs. just because it is well known, psychoactive, or any other variable involved doesn't make it a "real" or "fake" drug.


sorry to rant, no bad vibes were ment to be conveyed

Let me say this...I have done DXM about 5 times. The first time I chuged a bottle and felt very numb and noticed some mild visuals but nothing to be to excited about. Each time the experiences decreased in intensity. The only real thing I enjoyed about the experience was walking. Your right, it is a real drug, just like diphenhydramine is a real drug. Both of these have not shown me anything special and therefor I don't use them or consider them in the same category as other drugs such as pot, ect. There is a reason that the majority of regular DXM users are below the age of 17, because there isn't much more that they can easily get they're hands on. If I want to trip I will take some shrooms, but the last thing I would do is chug some syrup. And did you ever hear about people who suck the freon out of AC units??? Sure, thats a real drug to.

[Dualpower]

sot I respectfully disagree



Maybe you just don't like the effects, or never dosed very high



DXM is psychedellic, it's a socializer at lower doses, you get profound thought, obe's, and the like at higher doses.



I appreciate the stigma surrounding it, but despite who may decide to use it, it is still a powerful drug.