Dextromethorphan abuse in the Detroit area has seen a disturbing increase recently with the Northeastern Wayne County area showing above average abuse. Isolated deaths and overdoses have been reported throughout the United States involving teens experimenting with dextromethophan or "DXM" as users refer to it. This Document is generated from Open Source information and contains no classified information.

Dextromethorphan abuse is often referred to as "RoboTripping" since many teens consume excessive amounts of Robotussin cough medication to obtain the dextromethophan.

The user population of DXM is generally teenagers and young adults. Teens typically purchase and consume these large quantities of over-the-counter cold medications to reach the desired effects. Effects from over ingestion include slurred speech, hyperexcitability, lethargy, sweating, hypertension and hallucinations.

Unfortunately, in addition to over-the-counter medications, some predatory distributors have sought to sell dextromethophan on the Internet.

"Parents need to remember that ruthless and dangerous individuals try to entice our children with risky products on the Internet. We need to continually communicate and inform our kids of the dangers that lurk on something as innocent as the home computer," said Michael A. Braun, Special Agent in Charge of the DEA Detroit Field Division.

The Morganfield Police Department is dissemindating the following information to parents in the area:

-- Monitor your teens behavior for sudden and extreme changes in personality, especially in the following areas:

-- Are your teens eating habits changing dramatically, especially if they are less interested in eating?

-- Are your kids excessively secretive about their computer use?

-- Are your children receiving unusual mail or mail without return addresses?

-- Are your children interested in obtaining private mailboxes without the need?

Teens are often under the mistaken impression that abusing substances such as dextromethorphan, inhalants and nitrous oxide as not as dangerous as traditional "street" drugs. This is a fallacy that law enforcement, parents and the media need to work hard to dispel. These myths can in fact be deadly.

For more information on dextromethorphan, go to: www.dea.gov (Source: DEA)