The Cochise County Sheriff’s Office is advising parents to pay close attention to their children who are taking cold medicine claiming to be sick. There has been a nationwide issue with juveniles taking over the counter cold medication with the intent to “get high” and this has recently been reported to the Sheriff’s Office as well.
The cold medication is being purchased at local dollar stores for a reduced cost and then being ingested by teens who call this “Triple C”. The medication is taken in excess which reportedly produces a potent and hallucinogenic high after only a short time.
Parents are often unaware that teens are abusing these products despite packaging intended to alert adults to potential teen abuse and warnings to follow the recommended dosage or organ damage or other serious health issues can arise. Doctors are also advising that inappropriate use of these medications can cause long term problems such as learning difficulty and memory issues.
Nationwide, stores have reported having some of these medicines being opened and the contents stolen while the box is returned to the shelf, allowing the teen to walk out of the store potentially undetected.