Name: Ali Maniace

Form VIII Drug Research

Independent Project
Name of drug researched: dextromethorphan
1. Official name:
Dextromethorphan

2. Identify three street names:

Skittles, DXM, Vitamin D

3. Identify and define the drug classification:

Antitussive a safe and legal drug used to suppress the cough reflex

4. Ingestion methods How is the drug used?

Orally syrup, lozenges, extended-release oral suspension, chewable tablets, capsules,
syrup mixed with soda, with hard candies
Example: Abusers have consumed one half to four bottles of Robitussin per day, which
typically causes vomiting.
In some cases, DXM has been sniffed.

5. Describe the drug what does it look like?

Cough syrup: a thick, translucent liquid usually dyed red, orange, or purple
Tablets: round, chalky, white; oblong, enteric coated
Capsules: translucent gel capsules often red-colored; enteric coated capsules
Powder: white, fine, chalky powder

6. Identify five interesting facts/history of this drug:

a. Eventually, DXM may be used to protect the brain from strokes and meningitis.
b. In the late 1990s, people started to make sizzurp (cough syrup mixed with soda)
and the drug became popular.
c. Unlike other medications, many health professionals do not recognize the
potential for DXM abuse and addiction.

d. Even when taken at acceptable doses, if cough and cold symptoms are not
present, DXM may affect the brain similarly to illegal drug abuse.
e. Although DXM in cough and cold medicine is legal and available over-thecounter, it is also illegally sold, either alone or combined with other drugs and
referred to as ecstasy.

7. Identify three current statistics of this drug:

a. 2% of eighth graders, 3.7% of tenth graders, and 4.1% of twelfth graders used
cough suppressants for non-medical reasons in 2014.
b. In 2014, there was a significant drop in the past year use of cough/cold medicines
containing DXM among eighth graders: 2% in 2014, 2.9% in 2013 and 2011, and
3.89% in 2009.
c. The rate of emergency room visits resulting from any type of DXM use among
12-20-year-olds was 14.7 per 100,000 people as opposed to 5.7 per 100,000
people for the overall population.

8. How does this drug affect the body? In other words, what does it do to you mentally and
physically?
Five mental symptomsa. Mental confusion/disorientation
b. Agitation and/or paranoia
c. Hallucinations anywhere from color and sound variations to out-of-body
sensations and in some cases impaired judgment
d. Dizziness
e. Euphoria
Five physical symptomsa. Central nervous system overstimulation; increase of the amount of dopamine in
the brains reward pathway which leads to increased feeling of pleasure, but other
important brain messages are lost.
b.
Heart stroke-like symptoms
c.
Muscle spasms
d.
Drowsiness/fatigue
e. Slow, shallow breathing (limited oxygen in the brain leading to hypoxic brain
damage)

9. Is there any therapeutic use for this drug (medical)?

It is used as a (legal) way to suppress cough, cold, and flu symptoms. It should not be
used in patients who had been prescribed bed rest. DXM can be combined with several
drugs, including guaifenesin and pseudoephedrine, which are an expectorant and a
decongestant, respectively. These over-the-counter cough and cold medicines are used to
remove bronchial secretions and open nasal passages. Taken as directed, DXM is
considered a safe drug, but should still be used with caution, especially in individuals
with a hypersensitivity to this substance.

10. What kind of treatment is available for this drug? Please explain each type of treatment.
DXM has not been considered a drug that is capable of forming physical addiction until
recently, yet it is well established that psychological dependence does occur. The
treatment for psychological dependence and addition is similar to that of a traditional
drug treatment program, with the emphasis on long-term counseling, education, as well
as monitoring. The traditional gradual withdrawal, tapering down of the drug, is not
usually considered necessary for DXM abusers, since the dependence is not typically
physical. DXM hotlines, websites, and inpatient and outpatient facilities are options for
the dextromethorphan patient with a psychological dependence as well as physical
addiction.
11. Personal and social consequences:
High doses of DXM can cause death. One can develop a psychological dependence on
the drug, and it has recently been suggested that it may also cause physical addiction.
Research also shows that use of DXM often leads to abuse of even more dangerous
illegal drugs, especially opiates, cocaine, and amphetamines. Hallucinations and out-ofbody experiences can impair judgment, causing personal harm to oneself and others,
physically and mentally, which may result in death or serious injury. Due to the fact that
it is easy to purchase DXM over-the-counter, it is a popular choice of illegal drug use for
teens, and it is not widely identified by the general population as an abused medication.

12. If caught with this drug, what consequences would be enforced by law?
There are no legal consequences, except in Utah, all cough medicines are behind the
counter to try to discourage non-medical DXM use.

13. What are your personal thoughts about this drug?

DXM can be a very dangerous drug when abused, especially for the teenagers and young
adults who are attracted to it as an illegal substance. Perhaps because it is easily
accessible and found in a number of well-respected and commonly used over-the-counter
cough and cold medications, such as Robitussin, it is easy to abuse. Yet, it has the
potential to be deadly when used inappropriately. Many people in the medical profession
do not realize how harmful the drugs misuse can be. This is very concerning because the
abuse can continue for a prolonged period of time without detection or intervention, or
even the abusers understanding of the potential damage. The effects can be as
devastating as heroins, but this drug seems to be underrated and often misunderstood. It
is encouraging to learn that in the past several years there has been a decline in very
young users (eighth graders), but there should be better awareness and education about
DXM, a drug that may appear deceptively benign, but in reality has the ability to be
vastly destructive.