In the last few years, there’s been a new drug problem affecting teens  – and the ability to get these drugs is so obvious that many people are oblivious to it. Cough syrup, cold medicine, diet supplements: the products that line every pharmacy on Main Streets all over America are deadly when abused. They’re called over-the-counter drugs (OTC) and are purchased without a prescription. As the case with any drug, overdoses from over-the-counter medications can occur – with sometimes even death occurring if used incorrectly.  From 1999 to 2004, for example, there was a seven-fold increase in cases of poisoning and overdoses related to the abuse of cough syrup, and most of these were among 15- and 16-year-olds. The safest way to take over-the-counter medications is to do so exactly as directed by a doctor or as instructed on the packaging, and to treat the symptoms for which they are intended.

 

Think about it: some of these products have long lists of ingredients, and each person can react differently to each substance. And what if someone takes more than one drug at a time? An overdose on over-the-counter drugs can vary from person to person, depending on your body chemistry, how quickly they are taken, other drugs they are mixed with, and the amount of drugs taken. Actor Heath Ledger, for example, died when he took too many different kinds of  prescription drugs.

 

 

There are plenty of drugs available at the drugstore, or in your home, that may seem safe because they are used by another family member for a specific symptom and they’re approved by the FDA. (The FDA is the Food and Drug Administration, the federal agency that regulates the use of medications and supplements.) There are also plenty of products for sale that are not FDA-regulated, called “dietary supplements.” One problem with unregulated supplements is that there’s no way to know what’s really in them. The companies that make them aren’t required to list how much of each ingredient is in a particular product. And independent tests have shown that, often, what it says on the package is NOT what’s in the bottle.

 

Whether FDA-approved or not, all of these drugs and supplements should be used with caution and by the person for who it is intended. (It’s not ok to take some else medications or supplements, either).  Before you take anything, you should check with your parents or a doctor. Signs and symptoms of over-the-counter abuse can include impaired judgment, headache, vomiting, abdominal pain, aches, loss of consciousness, dizziness, diarrhea, panic attacks, and altered mental states. Long-term consequences can include addiction, coma, or even death. 

 

You can get hooked on over-the-counter medications, just like you can get hooked on illegal drugs. If you get hooked, you may feel the need to increase the amount you take each time. But it’s exactly those large amounts that can lead to very bad reactions.

 

So, remember: FDA-approved or not, all medications can be dangerous if taken the wrong way. Think twice before putting any of these substances in your body.