Q: My daughter is 14 years old and is in the eighth grade. I found a receipt for Coricidin in her pocket. She said she bought it because she has a cold. I don't see any signs that she is sick. When I asked her for the rest of the medication she said that she must have lost it. I don't quite know what to make of this but I am concerned because things just don't add up.

A: I hate to be an alarmist but Coricidin seems to have overtaken Sudafed as the over the counter drug of choice for a number of local middle and high school students. I don't know specifically what your daughter's motivation was for purchasing Coricidin but you aren't the first parent in the area to find a seemingly unwarranted receipt for the medication. You are right to listen to those alarm bells going off in your head. Teens are also shoplifting Coricidin as they consider it relatively easy to slip into their pockets undetected.

Coricidin HBP Cough & Cold, or “Triple C,” contains an active ingredient, dextromethorphan, or DXM. DXM is also found in cough syrups such as Robitussin Maximum Strength and Vick's 44. Lower doses of DXM can result in a perception that colors are deeper and an increased intensity of sound. Higher doses may cause visual hallucinations, an altered state of consciousness, delusions and disorientation. Very high doses may result in mind/body dissociation.

Coricidin abuse has been implicated in a number of deaths across the country and is also suspected in causing brain damage. Of course, teens that I have spoken with that abuse Coricidin are impervious to these concerns. They tend to view abusing Coricidin as relatively harmless and fun. Teens tend not to consider it to be substance abuse. “How bad can it be? They sell it at the store,” one teen reasoned.

Parents who believe their teen may be abusing Coricidin or other medications containing DXM should learn about the effects, risks, and warnings of the drug. You may want to speak with your teen's physician since certain medical conditions or the mixing of some prescription medications, such as antidepressants, with Coricidin may greatly increase the danger. There are many websites dedicated to Coricidin abuse that you and your teen will find informative. Sometimes teens are more open to believing what they read on the Internet than words of parental wisdom.

Even if you do not believe your teen is abusing Coricidin or other drugs, use this column as a not so gentle reminder to communicate periodically about substance abuse with your son or daughter. Believe me, they face a tremendous amount of pressure to use alcohol or drugs. Overtly, they might roll their eyes at you or seemingly disregard your comments. Secretly, however, they will know that your concern is a sign of your love and caring.