Concern is mounting over a new trend in the teenage drug culture: abuse of cough and cold medicine. Health experts are concerned about the forms of cold/cough medications containing dextromethorphan (DXM) because they are much more potent and could be deadly when taken in large quantities.

Teens are getting high by abusing Coricidin Cough and Cold pills, a cold medication that can be purchased over-the-counter. They're taking eight to 20 Coricidin pills at a time. Coricidin contains high levels of dextromethorphan, a relative of opiates. When taken in high doses, it produces an LSD-type hallucinogenic effect. Teens refer to the medication as DXM, Triple C, robo, skittles, dex, and Vitamin D.

Among the possible side-effects of excessive DXM use are loss of balance, increased pulse, hypothermia, severe high blood pressure, loss of consciousness, mania, loss of muscle control, permanent brain damage, coma, seizures, cerebral hemorrhages, and stroke.

Dr. John Cacace, an attending emergency-room physician at Bridgeport Hospital in Connecticut, said overdosing on the medicine could be fatal. The liver could shut down and, in rare instances, cardiac arrhythmia could cause heart failure.

Schering-Plough, the drug company that makes Coricidin, supports local pharmacies' efforts to restrict the sale to young people. Some pharmacies are keeping Coricidin behind the counter.

Some signs for parents to look for:

• Boxes of cold medication in rooms, purses or backpacks.
• Medication missing from your home.
• Any illness, unusual change in behavior, or appearance.