Federal researchers say that about 5 percent of 12- to 25-year-olds have misused over-the-counter cold and cough medicines to get high, MSNBC reported Jan. 9.

Both the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) and the Drug Enforcement Administration have warned about the growing abuse of DXM- and codeine-based medications that in high doses can cause hallucinations and other problems. The medicines can be mixed with soda or sports drinks to create concoctions dubbed "Syrup," "Purple Drank," or "Lean."

Use of such mixes has been popularized in some rap songs, but recent research shows that whites are three times more likely to abuse cold and cough medicines as blacks, with use rates similar to those of LSD, methamphetamine, and ecstasy.

NyQuil, Coricidin, and Robitussin are among the popular brands of abused medications, researchers found.