Robitussin & teens...

[Subdued]

I just wanted to warn all the parents of teens about the dangers of Robitussin abuse.

I just spent the night at the hospital with my 16 year old son who OD'd on this stuff. THANK GOD he recovered and is home; but it was quite scary yesterday when I found my son "tripping" and unable to walk or talk. His blood pressure was way up, his heart rate was up, he was hallucinating, mumbling, etc.

This is my straight-A student with grand plans after high school, well-liked, respected son, who has(had?) a relationship with the Lord - he has the Holy Ghost... doing something I NEVER thought he'd EVER do because he KNOWS better. We've had so many talks about the dangers of drugs; even specifically Robitussin. Yet he STILL did this stupid thing.

My son's friend was his cohort/partner in crime, and needed to be hospitalized as well. He has recovered, too, thankfully.

I now know that they were planning to do "bigger & harder" drugs in the near future... PCP, LSD, Mushrooms and Ecstacy(sp?); and that they've already been drinking and smoking pot. I just pray that this scary experience has made an impact on my son & his friend and that they mean it when they say they'll "never" do anything like this again (of course, my son will not have the OPPORTUNITY to do this again for quite some time since he will be WITH ME for a good, long while). They apparently had a "bad trip." And I'm so glad they made it through what could have been a tragic situation.

Please watch your teens. They think this is "fun" and "cool." They think it's harmless because it's an OTC medication. A lot of times, stores won't sell it to minors; but they DID this time - to my son's 15 year old friend. If the store doesn't have it behind the counter, and/or won't sell it to the kids, they often times steal it... all for a moment of "fun."

It can be fatal, though. OR, they could get stuck in a hallucination loop permanently.

Just thought I'd share my story.

[1Corinth2v4]

There's a lot of over-counter medications that can do that.
The medicine cabinet will soon put drug dealers out of business.

I suggest you put all meds in a locked cabinet.

[rgcraig]

Originally Posted by 1Corinth2v4

There's a lot of over-counter medications that can do that.
The medicine cabinet will soon put drug dealers out of business.

I suggest you put all meds in a locked cabinet.

You are exactly right!

There's even a commercial about this. A drug dealer saying that he's out of a job now because of OCD's. It's something we all need to be aware of for sure!

[Sherri]

Praying for you, Subdued. I know what it's like to have your child do things that they know they shouldn't do. Thankfully, by God's grace, they usually do grow out of it and decide to live right. Being a parent in the meantime is not easy though.

[dizzyde]

Originally Posted by Sherri

Praying for you, Subdued. I know what it's like to have your child do things that they know they shouldn't do. Thankfully, by God's grace, they usually do grow out of it and decide to live right. Being a parent in the meantime is not easy though.

Sherri, I'm not disagreeing with you on this, I am sure that for you and others this has been the case, and I am sure that it was in large part because of diligent parenting.

And I by no means am trying to add to the load of Subdued by being a downer or pessimistic about this.

It is just that in my experience, and what I have experienced personally is very much a different story. I have seen many, many "church" kids get seriously derailed by drugs, and a significant portion of them are permanently scarred by it. And for the most part I would say it was the way the parents handled the situation that made a significant difference in the outcome.

Subdued sounds as though he/she? is handling this with the appropriate seriousness, and I will continue to pray for their family, this is a very hard thing for a parent to have go through.

[Subdued]

Originally Posted by dizzyde

I am so sorry to hear this, I know you must be in a lot of emotional pain over this right now. I will be praying for your son, and for you, that God gives you the strength and wisdom to deal with this.

One thing that I would like to say to you, and it sounds like this is what you are doing, is take this, very, very seriously. I see too many Apostolic parents who want to trivialize things like this as a teenage prank, or rite of passage, that is no big deal, "they will grow out of it".

Drugs are very serious, and very addictive, and it doesn't take a lot for addiction to occur.

You sound like you are alert and paying attention, so I'm sure that you are on the right track, I just HATE to hear things like this, I HATE drugs, and I HATE the devil, I have lived with an addict, and it is a terrible thing.

Originally Posted by dizzyde

Sherri, I'm not disagreeing with you on this, I am sure that for you and others this has been the case, and I am sure that it was in large part because of diligent parenting.

And I by no means am trying to add to the load of Subdued by being a downer or pessimistic about this.

It is just that in my experience, and what I have experienced personally is very much a different story. I have seen many, many "church" kids get seriously derailed by drugs, and a significant portion of them are permanently scarred by it. And for the most part I would say it was the way the parents handled the situation that made a significant difference in the outcome.

Subdued sounds as though he/she? is handling this with the appropriate seriousness, and I will continue to pray for their family, this is a very hard thing for a parent to have go through.

I am, in no way, taking this lightly. I *KNOW* these types of drugs are highly addictive & lead to much worse, even death. My son has lost my trust and will have to work at rebuilding it. He will be submitting to some home drug tests, given randomly.

His behavior & attitude changed and my gut instinct told me that he was on drugs; but I denied it. Never again! If you suspect your kid is doing something wrong/dangerous - they most likely ARE!

Thank you for your prayers. I need the Lord's wisdom right now, which I know He will supply.

[MrsMcD]

Originally Posted by dizzyde

Sherri, I'm not disagreeing with you on this, I am sure that for you and others this has been the case, and I am sure that it was in large part because of diligent parenting.

And I by no means am trying to add to the load of Subdued by being a downer or pessimistic about this.

It is just that in my experience, and what I have experienced personally is very much a different story. I have seen many, many "church" kids get seriously derailed by drugs, and a significant portion of them are permanently scarred by it. And for the most part I would say it was the way the parents handled the situation that made a significant difference in the outcome.

Subdued sounds as though he/she? is handling this with the appropriate seriousness, and I will continue to pray for their family, this is a very hard thing for a parent to have go through.

How did the parents handle the situation that made a difference in the outcome? I guess what I am asking is what did they do that they could have done differently?

[Subdued]

Originally Posted by Sherri

Praying for you, Subdued. I know what it's like to have your child do things that they know they shouldn't do. Thankfully, by God's grace, they usually do grow out of it and decide to live right. Being a parent in the meantime is not easy though.

Thank you for the prayers. I NEED THEM!

I am trusting in the Grace of God right now (while taking measures to ensure this will not happen again).

Parenting a teen, so far, has been most difficult for sure.

[Subdued]

Originally Posted by rgcraig

You are exactly right!

There's even a commercial about this. A drug dealer saying that he's out of a job now because of OCD's. It's something we all need to be aware of for sure!

Yes, indeed!!!!!

[Subdued]

Originally Posted by 1Corinth2v4

There's a lot of over-counter medications that can do that.
The medicine cabinet will soon put drug dealers out of business.

I suggest you put all meds in a locked cabinet.

I agree with all of the above.