DXM can provide much-needed relief for people struggling with a severe cold, flu, or cough. The unfortunate side effect is that DXM can produce euphoria and sedation at high doses, making it ripe for abuse, particularly by minors and young adults. Although DXM may seem relatively harmless since it is available over the counter, those who abuse it can develop an addiction and experience varying side effects. Learn the symptoms of DXM abuse, so you will know if a loved one needs help from a DXM addiction treatment center.
If a young person in your life shows DXM addiction signs, you can trust Serenity House Detox & Recovery Florida to help. Our addiction treatment programs are carefully designed to address the physical and mental symptoms caused by addiction. Through medication, therapy, and the support of our team of professionals, your loved one can overcome dependence on DXM.
What Is DXM?
DXM, short for dextromethorphan, is a cough suppressant found in over-the-counter medications designed to alleviate coughing and induce mild sedation. It is a common ingredient in cold, cough, and flu medications, allowing people to find relief from incessant coughing so they can rest and recover.
DXM has replaced highly addictive codeine in cough medicines, but unfortunately, DXM can also present a risk of addiction when used in high doses. Another issue is that DXM is more accessible than other addictive drugs since it’s still sold over the counter. However, some states have taken measures to limit one’s access to large quantities of products containing DXM to reduce addiction and overdose cases. For example, minors in Florida are prohibited from purchasing cough syrups containing DXM.
5 Signs of DXM Addiction
Knowing how to spot DXM addiction signs can help you address the problem before it worsens or the person transitions to other, more dangerous drugs.
1. Using DXM to cope with emotional discomfort
A person abusing DXM may use it to self-medicate whenever they have a problem. Instead of seeking healthy ways to manage stress or other issues, they reach for DXM to provide them with a temporary escape.
2. Taking DXM with other substances
Polysubstance abuse involves using multiple substances, such as mixing DXM with alcohol. The interaction of various drugs can be unpredictable, and the side effects can be more severe. Some people mix substances to get a more intense high. Combining DXM with other substances is even more dangerous because people can’t anticipate how the combination will affect them.
3. Being unable to cut back or stop using DXM
When people are addicted to DXM, the craving for the drug can be so powerful that they cannot stop using it, even if they want to. Withdrawal symptoms may also make it difficult for them to quit.
4. Developing a tolerance to DXM
Needing a higher dose of the drug to achieve the same high is one of the major signs of DXM addiction. The body becomes used to the usual amount and requires higher and higher doses to achieve the same effect. This can lead to a person using extremely dangerous levels of DXM and potentially overdosing.
5. Spending a lot of time focused on DXM
DXM addiction often results in people spending much of their time using the drug, recovering from its effects, and thinking about how to get more of it. If a person lives in a state with restrictions on DXM access, they may spend a lot of time figuring out how to work around the limits. They may do this by traveling to multiple stores in order to get more bottles of DXM cough syrup. If they are a minor, they may also run into more roadblocks and possibly raid their parents’ medicine cabinets to access the drug.
Serenity House Detox & Recovery Florida: When You Need a DXM Addiction Treatment Center
If you see symptoms of DXM abuse in someone you care about, you may not know where to turn. Serenity House Detox & Recovery Florida has exactly what your loved one needs to overcome DXM addiction.
Our comprehensive addiction treatment programs provide counseling and medication to support them through withdrawal and recovery. Call us today at 866.294.5306 to get help for someone you love.
