Over-the-counter medications may seem harmless to most people, but for teens, they are a bad trap that will give them the opportuniy to get involved with drug and substances abuse.
The over-the-counter medications most commonly used and abused by teens are cough and cold remedies. Sleep aids are also popular with teens who want to feel “up”. Although some teens buy over-the-counter medications for pure and honest health reasons, some people tend to become addicted to medicine and abuse it.
All over-the-counter medications always have a medical purpose to serve; but, if they are misused (by taking higher doses than recommended, more frequently than recommended or in combination with other legal or illegal substances), these drugs can have a number of potentially harmful effects.
The most commonly used over-the-counter medications are:
- Cold and cough medicines – Especially over-the-counter cold and cough medicines containing dextromethorphan (DSM).
- Pain releiver – Over-the-counter pain releivers containing acetanimophen and ibuprofen may be toxic if taken too often or at doses higher than recommended doses.
- Diet Pills – Laxatives and diuretics can be abused in weight loss efforts, while other types of over-the-counter diet medications can be abused for their stimulating effects as well as their ability to suppress appetite.
The abuse of over-the-counter drugs containing dextromethorphan (DSM) increased dramatically in the first decade of the 21st century. Studies indicate that up to 1 in 10 American adolescents abused an over-the-counter drug containing DXM.
Three ways to prevent over-the-counter drug abuse in teens:
- Educate: Educate themselves about drug that can be misused or abuse and learn about the real dangers and risks of this behavior;
- Communicate: Communicate these risks with your children and dispel the notion that drugs can be used safely abuse; and
- Safegaurd: Protect medicines by limiting access to those that can be abused, monitoring quantities and safely eliminating unnecessary drugs. Parents should also ask for support from other parents to make sure they are doing the same thing.
Other tips to prevent over-the-counter drug abuse in teens:
- Some teens use drugs because they want to escape their painful problems and emotions. Encouraging teens to express themselves and share their concerns to their parents or trustees may prevent them from using drugs or, even worse, committing suicide.
- The school should also play a role in informing and improving student values and attitudes. Counselling programs and informative seminars should be organized from time to time to keep students on the right track.
- Although adolescents may seem complicated and difficult to understand, they should not be treated as such. Deep in their hearts they are like little children who are confused and have a hard time adjusting to their new world and feelings.
- Teens need only a little patience and understanding to feel loved and accepted as they are. Emphasize that they do not have to use drugs to escape their problems or compete with their peers.