Teens seek cough syrup high

A simple cough medicine can become a narcotic in the wrong hands.

Local teens are reportedly abusing a common over-the-counter cough syrup, seeking the thrill of a ‘high’ in broad daylight.

A resident witnessed this blatant misdemeanour last week.

“I saw the children sitting in the Hospital Street park, surrounded by medicine bottles. They are drinking from shooter glasses with cooldrink.”

His intervention elicited a nonchalant reaction from the teenagers, who simply asked him not to worry about them.

“They don’t seem to care about passing their tests. These children are our country’s future, after all,” he said in anguish.

The resident added the children often left behind a mess of human waste, used condoms and depleted medicine bottles.

Hospital Street’s park is already in a poor state, he said.

“The main issue here is, who is responsible? Parents really need to be aware of the situation, what their children are up to when they aren’t at school.”

Speaking anonymously, a representative of a medication stockist confirmed the specific type of cough syrup identified, was stocked at any pharmacy.

It is easy to attain, as it is a low schedule medicine.

“This brand has codeine in it, which makes a person drowsy – that’s why it’s popular.”

Codeine is classified as a methylated morphine and an opiate, while the cough syrup in question is considered the most abused medication available over the counter.

Parents are urged to remain in contact with SANCA, if they suspect their child could be hooked.

“School principals can’t always help beyond their premises.”