Four years ago this month, I told you about something that appeared to be a growing problem --
robotripping. Now,
a new study says it is one of the fastest-growing drug problem in California and one of the fastest-growing in the country. Robotripping gets its name from the main ingredient used in the toxic mix -- cough medication, like
Robitussin. It's interesting, though, that the latest study does not, in fact, name Robitussin as the drug that is most commonly abused --
Coricidin took that honor.
The Los Angeles Times reports:
Teenagers' use of over-the-counter cold and cough medicines to get a cheap high -- a practice known as "robotripping" -- is rising 50 percent a year and becoming one of the fastest-growing drug abuse [...] problems in California and around the country, according to a study released this week.
Since 1999, teen abuse of Coricidin pills, Robitussin syrup and other common medications has risen 10-fold, data from the California Poison Control System show. The widely available and inexpensive medicines are growing in popularity while use of illegal drugs such as Ecstasy, LSD and the date rape drug GHB have dropped, according to the report.
The cold remedies are valued for an ingredient called dextromethorphan, which can cause hallucinations and out-of-body experiences. In extreme cases, like that of 16-year-old Anaheim student Lucia Martino, they can cause death. The drug, known by kids as DXM or Dex, was first abused in the 1960s when it was in a cough medicine called Romilar [...].
Health officials spotted a revival in the late 1990s. About two-thirds of abusers now take Coricidin HBP Cough & Cold, [...] candy-red tablets [...] nicknamed CCC, triple C and skittles. Robotripping takes its name from Robitussin, the second most abused cold medicine.
A study in May by the Partnership for a Drug-Free America estimated that 2.4 million teens -- about 1 in 10 -- got high on cough medicines in 2005. That puts it on a par with cocaine and slightly above methamphetamine.
The new study, published in the Archives of Pediatrics & Adolescent Medicine this week, reports:
A 10-fold increase in CPCS dextromethorphan abuse cases from 1999 (0.23 cases per 1000 calls) to 2004 (2.15 cases per 1000 calls) (odds ratio, 1.48; 95 percent confidence interval, 1.43-1.54) was identified. Of all CPCS dextromethorphan abuse cases, 74.5 percent were aged 9 to 17 years; the frequency of cases among this age group increased more than 15-fold during the study (from 0.11 to 1.68 cases per 1000 calls). Similar trends were seen in the [American Association of Poison Control Centers] and [Drug Abuse Warning Network] databases. The highest frequency of dextromethorphan abuse occurred among adolescents aged 15 and 16 years. The most commonly abused product was Coricidin HBP Cough & Cold Tablets.
Refinancing Again
Here we go again. Another run of home mortgage refinancing is underway. Reuters says home mortgage applications rose sharply last week as mortgage rates dropped below 6 percent.
The Gift That Keeps on Taking
The Red Tape Chronicles, an MSNBC.com blog, explains how gift cards are becoming a better deal these days as states pass laws that prevent retailers from imposing "dormancy fees." But bank-issued gift cards, while easy to use, tend to be costly.
The blog says:
Bank-issued gift cards. They might seem a bit more thoughtful, as recipients can use them anywhere. But beware: Bank gift cards will be in the first class when the Sneaky Fee Hall of Fame is built. All the cards cost an extra up-front fee for buyers (MasterCard's Good2Go card costs $9.95 -- meaning a $50 gift card will cost you $60). Most of the cards ding the recipient a buck or two for each transaction, for examining balances, for withdrawing cash at ATMs, and even sometimes for not doing anything at all in a given month. Bank gift cards used for multiple purchases quickly fall to $40 or less in value -- and[,] by the way, they all expire, meaning they all become worthless at a certain point. A bank gift card is the least thoughtful gift of all. And yet, TowerGroup says $23 billion will be spent on bank gift cards this year, and the Network Branded Prepaid Card Association (bank card PR agency) says one in five U.S. consumers plans to buy at least one this holiday season.
Consumer Reports has a chart of how much money banks charged for the gift cards they issued in 2005. It's useful information. But to do this story well, it seems that we need an updated roundup.
The Montgomery County, Md., Office of Consumer Protection has one. It recently issued this helpful material:
Just in time for the holidays, the Office of Consumer Protection has issued its fourth annual gift card study. "Gift Cards 2006: Retail Cards Continue to Improve (with Prodding); Bank Cards Still Have Problems." [PDF] The report contains valuable information and recommendations regarding gift cards issued by 40 stores and restaurants and 10 banks/financial institutions. It highlights 20 good retail gift cards and shows the problems with bank cards. See the News Release for additional details.
Term Paper Season
It is term paper season. I know because Internet search engines are seeing a big jump in searches for esoteric words. Yahoo's "the buzz log" reports:
Homework and essay-related searches show notable interest during the weekend, particularly from searchers between the ages of 17 and 20. We won't tell anyone about those "free essays" (+112 percent) you look for.
Search is indeed a useful tool, but it's no replacement for the real thing. No matter how much you search for "spark notes" (+202 percent), "cliffs notes" (+186 percent), and the like, none of that will replace actually reading "The Great Gatsby" (+174 percent).
If you're on the hot seat to write a paper or thesis, get to know the Modern Language Association (+143 percent) style guide. Judging by the searches for "works cited" (+199 percent), "mla format," and "mla format examples," we're guessing you waited until the last minute to figure out how to quote your sources on that essay about the Harlem Renaissance (+118 percent) and/or the Industrial Revolution (+137 precent).
Scared of Santa
Al’s Morning Meeting reader Kate Martin, who writes about Larimer County and politics for the Daily Reporter-Herald in Loveland, Colo., reminded me of a funny collection of pictures of children who are scared of Santa.
A couple of years ago, the Chicago Tribune asked readers to send in pictures of kids who were scared of the jolly old elf. That initial batch of photos and others sent in by readers to the South Florida Sun-Sentinel in Fort Lauderdale and the Tribune over the years, are piled together in one big collection here.
We are always looking for your great ideas. Send Al a few sentences and hot links.
Editor's Note: Al's Morning Meeting is a compendium of ideas, edited story excerpts and other materials from a variety of Web sites, as well as original concepts and analysis. When the information comes directly from another source, it will be attributed and a link will be provided whenever possible. The column is fact-checked, but depends upon the accuracy and integrity of the original sources cited. Errors and inaccuracies found will be corrected.
Thanks for the link to the Scared of Santa photos....
