If you or someone you know is having problems with drugs, help is available at:
Alcohol and Drug 24-Hour Helpline
800-562-1240
Crisis Clinic Resource Hotline
360-586-2800
True North-Student Assistance Services
360-339-8108
Providence St. Peter Chemical Dependency Center
800-332-0465
If you want to learn more about drug abuse or find information on particular drugs, the following links can be useful:
Drug dependence/abuse information by WebMD:
www.webmd.com/mental-health/drug-dependence-abuse
Drug information and parenting advice:
www.theantidrug.com
The Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration’s family and parenting guide:
www.family.samhsa.gov
The Partnership for a Drug-Free America has information for parents in English and in Spanish, along with a drug guide:
www.drugfree.org
Slang terms: dex, robo, skittles, triple C, tussin.
Dextromethorphan (DXM) is a cough suppressant found in many over-the-counter cold and flu medications in liquid, tablet and lozenge forms. (It also can be purchased on the Internet in powder form.) It is a dissociative anesthetic, similar to PCP and ketamine, causing hallucinations in larger doses.
Common side effects include confusion, dizziness, double or blurred vision, slurred speech, impaired physical coordination, abdominal pain, nausea and vomiting, rapid heart beat, drowsiness, numbness of fingers and toes, and disorientation. It also can cause hallucinations and loss of motor control. Long-term abuse can damage the body, since DXM is often mixed with other ingredients, such as acetaminophen, which harm the liver in large quantities. The dangerous effects of DXM also can increase when taken with alcohol or other drugs.
Information on DXM from Partnership for a Drug-Free America
Information from WebMD on DXM abuse among teens
Pseudoephedrine is a common decongestant, found in such products as Sudafed. It is used as an ingredient in the manufacture of methamphetamine, but can be abused or taken improperly on its own as well.
Common adverse reactions are nervous system stimulation, sleeplessness, nervousness, excitability, dizziness and anxiety. It can sometimes cause heart palpitations. Rarely, pseudoephedrine may cause hallucinations, arrhythmia, hypertension or seizures. In high doses, it may cause paranoid psychosis.
Improper use of pseudoephedrine offen occurs for its stimulant properties, such as increasing alertness and awareness.
Because of its use for creating methamphetamine, the U.S. government requires information to be gathered from anyone purchasing products containing pseudoephedrine. And many states, including Washington, have further restrictions on the purchase of pseudoephedrine products.
Alcohol
Barbiturates
Buprenorphine
Cocaine
Codeine
Crack
DXM (cough syrup)
Ecstasy
GHB
Hashish
Heroin
Ketamine
LSD (acid)
Marijuana
Methadone
Methamphetamine (meth)
Mushrooms
Naltrexone
Opium
OxyContin (oxycodone)
PCP (phencyclidine)
Percocet (oxycodone)
Peyote/mescaline
Pseudoephedrine
Quaaludes
Rohypnol (roofies)
Steroids
Stimulants
Tobacco
Tranquilizers
Valium
Vicodin (hydrocodone)