Use of over-the-counter cough and cold medicines has become one of the fastest-growing drug abuse problems for youths in California and elsewhere, and much of the increase is being seen in the pre-teen population, the Los Angeles Times reported Dec. 5.

A study published in the December issue of the Archives of Pediatrics and Adolescent Medicine found that while abuse of the ingredient dextromethorphan (DXM) is most common among 15- and 16-year-olds in California, growth in DXM abuse is driven by the 9-to-17 age group. Use of DXM is more popular among 12- and 13-year-olds than among 18-year-olds, according to the study, based on a review of 1,382 calls to the California Poison Control Center over six years.

"I did not expect 12-year-olds to be abusing it," said the study's senior author, Ilene B. Anderson, a toxicology management specialist for the state poison control system. She added that she believes abuse of DXM is vastly underreported. "If someone is abusing dextro and gets a high, they don't call us."

Dextromethorphan is found in products such as Coricidin HBP Cough & Cold and the cough medicine Robitussin. The latter product is the source of the slang term "robotripping" to describe use of DXM to obtain a cheap high.

Use of large quantities of dextromethorphan can lead to elevated blood pressure and heartbeat, with some users becoming agitated and others lethargic. Possible life-threatening side effects include seizures and elevated body temperature.

The Consumer Healthcare Products Association, representing makers of over-the-counter medicines, is seeking to minimize misuse of the ingredient by pushing for federal legislation to ban online sales of pure DXM in powdered form and to close websites that encourage recreational use of the drug.