Triple C

I posted this here rather than the Prescription Drugs forum because Triple C's are completely legal and can be purchased by any age group. Triple C's can be purchased as Coricidin Cough & Cold medicine or other medicines that use dextromethorphan. Because of this, underage kids are often the ones who are abusing the substance.

Some stores have begun setting limits, like requiring an individual to be 18, for the purchase of these substances. In several cases, however, the drug is just as easily swiped from the store's shelves.

I personally am interested in this because when I was in high school, I abused triple c's. My addiction eventually led my expulsion from high school and family issues.

DMX is an active ingredient in over 120 over the counter cold medicines (http://www.deadiversion.usdoj.gov/drug_chem_info/dextro_m.pdf).

What do you think we should do about these types of drugs? Their potential for abuse is very high and often the victims are young adults. I applaud stores that have begun setting restrictions, but are they enough?

What are your thoughts? Have you or anyone you've known taken these types of substances?

I know of people who have abused Triple Cs. It's almost crazy how stores still have it on their shelves knowing the dangers of it. Friends I know who did it when we were going teenagers, got the medicine quite easily without any issues. The fact that it is so easily bought over the counter scares me. I remember a friend taking 16 triple Cs and she could not function. It was almost as if she had done mushrooms. This was a very scary moment. I'd hope that kids don't do this ad much as it was popular back in the day as it is highly dangerous.

This is just like people abusing cough medicine or pain killers. The stores have done there best with age restrictions, they just have to make sure they stop kids from stealing it. Anything over the counter can be abused, teens just have to understand it's not worth it. Getting high isn't worth you having health problems or dying. There just has to be more awareness about the abuse of over the counter drugs.

Here where I live there are limits on how much you can buy and you do have to show ID for these over the counter medication that can be addictive. I think it's a good idea, honestly - it worries me that before these limits were set, that obtaining these was so easy and limitless, really.

I agree restrictions should be in place. I think age limits make the most sense, but the medicine needs to be stored somewhere that it can't be stolen as tsky45 said. Personally, I would steal them because it was really easy. I even sold them for $5 at school. I think they need to be stored behind glass or given by request at the register.

I think it is really hard to make teens understand the dangers. Any suggestions how we could inform them other than DARE-like programs?

I was addicted to triple c's when i was 13. I'm 16 now. Before I quit I was taking 2 boxes a day. Of course addiction kills you mentally, emotionally& spiritually, but it killed me physically terribly too. I went through withdrawal from it twice. The 1st time was unintentional, i was locked in a mental ward, &it was sooo terrible. The 2nd time was actually my decision. I don't know what made me do it, I knew withdrawal was gonna suck, but for some reason I did it, &I'm so happy I did. There are age limits on it now& some stores have it locked behind glass or behind the counters, but some stores still have it sitting in the same exact spot on the shelves, making it still easy to steal. I think if every store had it behind the counters or behind locked glass it would definitely help

I definitely agree with selling them to people over the age of 18. I was under the age of 18 and was able to buy Nyquil regularly. I was extremely addicted to the stuff. It's not good for you at all and as a teenager, it was hard for me to stop. It was so readily available to me. My mother always had cough syrup in the house and once I went through it, I used my allowance money and walked to Rite Aid down the street.

Here they are kept behind the counter at the pharmacy. You have to ask for them and they are not available when the pharmacy is closed. They take you name and you have to be eighteen to purchase them. They enter your name in their computer data so they know if you are requesting them often. It can't stop every body that abuses it but at least they are making that effort.