Over the Counter Drugs of Abuse

Drug abuse and addiction is most often associated with street drugs like heroin, cocaine and meth. However, there are a number of over the counter medicines that people are known to abuse and become addicted to. When used in a manner inconsistent with their labeling, these OTC products can be as dangerous as even the most illicit street substances. And because these types of drugs trigger tolerance, physical dependence and ultimately addiction, there are thousands of people in the US that are dangerously hooked on drugs that anyone can buy at the local supermarket or pharmacy. These easily available over the counter drugs of abuse include: *Bath Salts Bath salts are especially dangerous because they were never intended for human consumption and therefore most types are completely unregulated. These powdery substances were designed to dissolve in bath water and release aroma and in some cases special herbs or other ingredients meant for relaxation. When smoked or snorted these chemicals produce a powerful effect that nearly all users report as unpleasant. However, the substance is often so addictive that many people continue to use it – at great risk to their health – even though they don't particularly care for the high it produces. Side effects from the abuse of bath salts include seizures, heart attack, pulmonary arrest, and kidney and liver problems. *Robotussin Robotussin, also known as Tussin in generic form, is a cough syrup that people have been using to get high for decades. Abusers of this over the counter product drink the DM version or take similar dosage in pill form. DM stands for Dextromethorphan Hydrobromide, the active ingredient that acts as a cough suppressant at normal dosage and a hallucinogen at high dosage. These hallucinations are intense and often the user cannot tell the difference between reality and hallucination, which is not the case with other hallucinogens. Because Robotussin is so powerful, it is also extraordinarily addictive – and hard to detect using traditional urinalysis. *Sudafed The active ingredient in Sudafed – pseudoephedrine – is a chemical precursor often used in the manufacture of methamphetamines. Most states now strictly control how much of this product you can buy and how often. However, users are able to get a meth-like high by over-dosing on Sudafed alone. Abuse of Sudafed or similar OTC drugs can lead to physical dependence almost as rapidly as users of meth. *Glade Inhaling the contents of Glade or other aerosols produces an intense but very short high – at risk of death and injury. The gases escaping from an aerosol spray are toxic to humans. Additionally, the aerosol propellant is extremely cold and many abusers of inhalants have suffered frost bite and tissue injury – even when used just once or twice. Inhalants like Glade can cause seizures, pulmonary disorders, cardiac arrest and death. *Dramamine This motion sickness medicine works to relax the control and balance center in the brain. Overdosing on the drug causes hallucinations that can be very vivid and have been known to cause people to engage in strange and dangerous behavior. This means that abuse of Dramamine isn't as widespread as the other drugs listed here, but it is still a significant public health concern. Because these drugs are easy to obtain by anyone, tolerance, physical dependence and addiction can set in very quickly – with disastrous results. If someone you love is suffering from an addiction to over the counter medications, their very life could depend on what action you take.

Talk to someone right now. Regardless of where you are, our Florida drug rehab center can help guide you quickly and confidentially - and free of charge. Click here for more information about how an inpatient treatment program could help.