| Robo tripping is one of the street names for cough | | | | Judgment and impulse control may be affected. |
| medicine abuse, a growing form of drug abuse. | | | | Essentially, large doses of DXM can produce alarming |
| Sometimes referred to as "robo-tripping", cough | | | | effects such as the inability to move one's arms or |
| medicine abuse has increased dramatically in recent | | | | legs, or even the inability to talk. In fact, such high |
| years. Whether in syrup form or tablet form, | | | | doses may also result in slow breathing, cerebral |
| teenagers and children often consume huge and | | | | hemorrhages, brain damage, stroke, or even death. |
| potentially lethal doses of cough medicine in their | | | | Furthermore, if the drug is abused when one is over |
| quest to get high from Dextromethorphan, which is | | | | exerting oneself, such as in nightclubs or raves, or if |
| an active ingredient capable of offering relief from | | | | it's abused in an exceptionally warm environment, the |
| coughs. | | | | abuser is at risk of hypothermia. |
| According to a recent study by the National Institute | | | | In addition to the serious risks already mentioned |
| of Drug Abuse involving over 48,000 students, out | | | | above, DXM abuse can also result in nausea, irregular |
| of the ten most common drugs being abused by | | | | heartbeat, increased blood pressure, head pains, |
| those in 12th grade, at least seven are either | | | | abdominal pain, loss of feeling in fingers and toes, |
| available over the counter or else they are | | | | unconsciousness, seizures and death. |
| prescribed. Hardly surprising perhaps, but cough | | | | There are literally thousands of overdose cases |
| medicine ranks relatively high. | | | | reported by the emergency services across the |
| Astonishingly enough, kids frequently take up to fifty | | | | country and according to the authorities, there |
| times the recommended dose when robo-tripping in | | | | seems to be a tendency for DXM overdoses to |
| order to get the desired results. These results include | | | | occur in clusters as word regarding the drug spreads |
| going into a trance like state, hallucinating or "tripping". | | | | through different schools within a community. |
| However, it comes as little surprise that in some | | | | Robo -Tripping Effects One Should Look Out For: |
| circumstances, such a significant dose can prove to | | | | -Drowsiness, or confusion |
| be fatal. | | | | -Increased heartbeat |
| Understanding the Effects & Risks | | | | -Dizziness or blurred vision |
| Contrary to what some may believe, cough medicine | | | | -Hallucinations |
| abuse is without a doubt just as dangerous as any | | | | -Lack of coordination, or slurred speech |
| illegal drugs. Because of the very nature of DXM | | | | -Numbness in fingers and toes |
| (Dextromethorphan), the effects vary depending on | | | | -Nausea vomiting, or abdominal pain |
| the dosage taken and most abusers compare the | | | | They say that prevention is better than cure, and |
| effects to different plateaus. While some teenagers | | | | this is particularly true when it comes to substance |
| describe it as a very mild stimulant, others may | | | | abuse. Whether or not you suspect abuse, all |
| experience hallucinations or even total dissociation | | | | responsible parents should discuss the matter with |
| from the body. In fact, because DXM's only produce | | | | their kids. Highlighting the dangers of cough medicines |
| effects when such huge doses are taken, The line is | | | | and other over the counter drugs at an early stage |
| thin between attaining a trance or zoning out and | | | | may well result in you preventing such a scenario |
| losing consciousness. | | | | from developing. Likewise, if you do have reason to |
| Because of the way in which the drug effects one's | | | | suspect your child is involved, you need to confront |
| visual perception and cognitive processes, coupled | | | | them immediately and make your concerns known. |
| with the fact that these effects can last for up to | | | | Depending on the circumstances, it may also be |
| six hours, abusers are at risk of causing injury to | | | | advisable to involve a counselor or even the family |
| themselves and others while under the influence. | | | | doctor. |