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Teen In Critical Condition After Cough Medicine Overdose
POSTED: 6:25 pm EST February 27,
2008
UPDATED: 8:22 pm EST February 27,
2008
TAYLOR, Mich. -- Some teenagers in Taylor are using some over-the-counter medications to get a dangerous high.A 17-year-old is in intensive care after he tried to get high by drinking cough medicine.Timathy Berczel said he lives with guilt and hopes to stop what has become a dangerous trend among teenagers.
Berczel was there Tuesday when his friend took an excessive amount of cough medicine to get high."I really did not know he took that much from the store. He stole it. I didn't really see it," said Berczel.Timathy's friend drank a bottle of Robitussin and took 45 capsules, according to health officials.The chemical in the cough medicine Dextromethorphan can produce hallucinations and a high that some teens call DXMing.Timathy's mom saw him hallucinating and knew something was wrong because just two months ago Timathy had confessed to drinking an entire bottle of Robitussin.Timathy describes it as an experience he will never forget, saying he felt like he was in a jungle.Timothy and his mother took the teen to the hospital.The friend's vision has not returned to normal, and there is no word yet if the eye damage is permanent.The symptoms for parents to look out for are slurred speech, dilated pupils, and in some cases an increased heart rate.
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