The staff members at Naperville North High School said their latest clue that over-the-counter medications were being abused with greater regularity by city teens came about two weeks ago.

A sophomore boy who became sick at the school was treated at Naperville’s Edward Hospital after he admitted taking more than two dozen tablets of Coricidin, a popular decongestant.

Though the incident was alarming, police and school workers said, situations like it are becoming more common. Through conversations with students and parents, and with more abuse cases surfacing at school nurses’ offices, it is evident that Naperville is seeing an increase in over-the-counter drug abuse among teens, the officials said.

"We know it’s happening," said Lisa Galdikas, student assistance program coordinator at Naperville North. "I’ve been having conversations in parent conferences where I’m told, ‘I’ve found all these empty bottles of cough syrup.’ That’s a problem."

Galdikas said she has seen an increase in such cases over the past two months. Fifteen Naperville North students have been treated at Edward Hospital this semester, she said, many under the suspicion of abusing antihistamines and cold drugs.

No one has pinpointed the reason for the recent surge, Galdikas said.

Health teachers at Naperville North have been given new materials in recent weeks to remind students of the dangers of abusing medication, Galdikas said. Taking large quantities of such drugs can pose a danger to the heart and liver, she said.

Treatment usually starts with a stomach-pumping, according to staff at Edward Hospital.

Robin Amberger, student assistance program coordinator at Naperville Central High School, said abuse cases recently have surfaced there as well. Calls also have come in to Amberger’s office from junior high schools lately, she said.

"Everywhere I turn I’m hearing about it," she said. "There are some very potent chemicals in over-the-counter drugs. Just because they’re over-the-counter doesn’t mean they’re safe."
(Marijuananews note: How can that be? We are told that making marijuana available -- even by prescription -- would "send the wrong message" that is was safe for children. These drugs are sold without prescription, therefore….)
See
Page On The Drug Czar’s Web Site—Projectknow.Com—Is Called "True Lies" And It Truly Is
and
How the War On Marijuana To Save The Children
Has Become A War On the Children To Save Marijuana Prohibition

Amberger said she has noticed an increase in calls from Naperville Central parents. One mother who called recently said she was worried about her son, who had started hanging out at a local convenience store.

Amberger said such drug abuse earns the same 10-day suspension in Naperville School District 203 as the use of marijuana or alcohol.