The use of Coricidin HBP Cough & Cold medicine is the newest trend in the abuse of over-the-counter cold medicines used as a stimulant to get a high.

“Earlier this month, two teenagers were arrested in separate incidences for shoplifting this product,” DeKalb Police Lt. Jim Kayes said.

Although no further arrests have been made, local drug stores and pharmacies selling the cold medicine have been informed of the growing trend among teenagers.

The slang term for the cold medicine is Triple C, according to the National Drug Intelligence Center.

The cold medicine contains dextromethorphan, which, when taken in doses exceeding the recommendation of physicians and pharmacists, produces hallucinations and a sense of dissociation.

Triple C now is behind the counter at many drug stores and pharmacies.

“We only sell it to customers possessing symptoms of a cold,” said Tim Lehan, a pharmacist at Lehan Drugs, 1407 S. Fourth St. There hasn’t been an increase in the purchasing of the cold medicine, Lehan said.

The DeKalb Police Department encourages parents to be aware of the recent trend in juvenile drug abuse. Those with the means to purchase it can abuse it outright, Kayes said.

Dextromethorphan is chemically similar to codeine and has similar effects to that of phencyclidine (PCP) and ketamine.

Triple C also is behind the counter at the Walgreens, located at 100 W. Lincoln Highway.

“Customers are limited to no more than two packages of the cough medicine,” store manager Chad Dickmann said.

The 3 What’s of Triple C

What is Triple C?

A slang term for Coricidin HBP Cough & Cold medicine. The drug also may be called DXM or dex (for dextromethorphan), candy, skittles or red devils.

What are the risks?

The effects of the drug can last up to six hours and include impaired visual perception and cognitive processes.

What does it look like?

Triple C is available as red tablets containing 30 milligrams of dextromethorphan. Other Coricidin products such as Chest Congestion & Cough and Maximum Strength Flu also are abused.

Source: National Drug Intelligence Center