Airsickness Drug Dramamine Used to Get High January 17, 2006
News Summary
Teens have increasingly turned to prescription and over-the-counter drugs to get a buzz, including taking high doses of the airsickness drug Dramamine, the Bradenton (Fla.) News-Democrat reported Jan. 13.High doses of dimenhydrinate, the active ingredient in Dramamine, can have hallucinogenic effects, some adolescents have discovered. Last year, a teenager in Oregon drowned after taking the drug mixed with alcohol, and five high-school freshmen from Virginia landed in the hospital in 2004 after overdosing on Dramamine.
"I've heard about some of these abuses. I'm just not aware if they are as widespread of a problem as meth is," said Illinois Attorney General Lisa Madigan. "Obviously that will become dependent on whether those turn out to be fads or if it becomes as devastating to individuals, communities and law enforcement as meth has ... Once someone takes it, they want it. They go to extraordinary lengths to make it. I don't know if that's true with kids taking a handful of motion-sickness pills."
Madigan said it is possible that if abuse of Dramamine becomes widespread then authorities might have to look at restricting sales, just as sales of cold medicines have been limited to prevent people from making methamphetamine.
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