When you think about drug use, you probably think about marijuana, cocaine, meth, or pills right?  These are all illegal drugs, and teens often have easy access to them.  What if I told you that you have things in your own home that a teenager could use to get high?  Even if you don’t ever buy alcohol, you probably have alcohol in the house.  You probably have other things too.

Some alternative substances kids are using to get high these days:

Pure Vanilla: It is 35% alcohol, and anyone can walk into a store a buy it.  A 12oz. bottle costs about $9 at a big box store. Expensive, but considering it has 12 shots in it and it’s perfectly legal, kids do buy it.  If you have a bottle of real vanilla, mark your label in an inconspicuous place and monitor it. Often parents have no idea their child is drinking the vanilla.

Mouthwash: This is also very high in alcohol content, and not the kind of alcohol they make liquor out of. This stuff can be very toxic. You can buy non-alcoholic mouthwash at just about any store that sells mouthwash.

Tussin type cough & cold medicines: When I was in high school, they called it “Goin’ Robin”.  “Tussin” abuse causes the user to feel as if they are both drunk and on a hallucinogen at the same time. It is highly intoxicating and overdose can happen very easily. A normal adult dose is 2 tsp. every 4-6 hours. Teens will drink half an 8oz. bottle, or more.

Night-time cold medicine: Produces similar effects of the Tussins, except they also contain 30% alcohol, which is how it makes you sleepy. Very easy to overdose on.

PM-type pain relievers: Acetaminophen PM is for helping a person sleep when they have pain. Taking even one more than the recommended dosage can cause a “high”, as well as a racing heartbeat. Acetaminophen causes severe liver damage, so this is not something anyone should be taking more than necessary of.

Spray paint, rubber cement, gasoline, Sharpie markers and other inhalants: “Huffing” as it is called, is where someone inhales the fumes of a substance to get a high.  The user will inhale the fumes. This keeps the fumes inside the body, allowing them to be absorbed into the bloodstream, and cuts off the oxygen supply to the brain, and often the user will pass out. Huffing can cause severe brain damage, seizures, and death.

Incense: Called K2, this is legal, cheap, and produces effects similar to marijuana. It is smoked in a pipe or rolled up as a joint. Associated with severe allergic reactions, seizures, irregular heartbeat or chest tightness, and unconsciousness.  I wrote a whole post about this, coming next week. If your child has K2 incense, they are using it to get high. Edit: This morning’s news said that in Washington state alone, there have been 30 cases of severe reactions and hospitalization in recent months.

Now, go check your medicine cabinet, your pantry, and your garage. Be aware of what you have, what you can lock up, and what you need to monitor. Don’t walk around with blinders on. Even “good kids” do stupid things, sometimes with terrible consequences. Most importantly, talk to your kids.