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Article: OTCs: check out the labels: OTCs can be powerful drugs. Here's what you should know.(over-the-counter-drugs)
- Article from:
- Current Events, a Weekly Reader publication
- Article date:
- November 1, 2001
- Author:
CopyrightCOPYRIGHT 2001 Weekly Reader Corp. This material is published under license from the publisher through the Gale Group, Farmington Hills, Michigan. All inquiries regarding rights should be directed to the Gale Group. (Hide copyright information)
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Two high school juniors from Hightstown, New Jersey, found out how strong over-the-counter (OTC) drugs can be when abused. The two had taken dextromethorphan, or DXM. This white, powdered drug is a common ingredient in cough medicine.
They began by chugging cough syrup, which made them feel high and have hallucinations. To get high faster, they turned to powdered DXM, a concentrated form of the drug--and they overdosed.
DXM used in OTC cough syrups helps relieve coughs due to colds. It's safe for most people to take, if they carefully follow the directions for use. However, too much DXM can cause coma or shut down the lungs' ability to work, and the ...