NCJ Number
206621
Journal
Journal of Drug Education Volume: 33 Issue: 4 Dated: 2003 Pages: 415-425
Date Published
2003
Length
11 pages
Annotation
This study investigated relevant beliefs and norms associated with codeine and promethazine hydrochloride cough syrup (CPHCS) consumption, initiation, and perceived addiction among students.
Abstract
Cough syrup containing CPHCS has become a drug of choice for African-American teenagers in the Texas area. Abuse of CPHCS has evolved as a result of lyrics in a popular and innovative form of hip-hop music in the Houston-based underground music scene called the “screw.” As a result, CPHCS use now represents a growing public health risk for African-American teenagers throughout the United States. A total of 587 middle and high school students were invited to take part in this study. Of the 87 students who returned completed parental consent forms, 56 students self-reported being current cough syrup users of the 56, 48 were CPHCS users. The majority of the 48 youth surveyed stated that CPHCS is popular because of media modeling. In this study, a majority of students stated that doctors were the greatest facilitators of CPHCS acquisition. Often in medicine it is difficult to determine if a patient is visiting the clinic because of real health issues or for a secondary gain. While the sample size was limited and did not have a balanced gender representation, a wealth of information was received from each of the 48 student participants. Future studies, both qualitative and quantitative can address gender as well as ethnic comparisons in adolescent beliefs related to CPHCS. This study will help to further the understanding about adolescents’ social norms and beliefs regarding CPHCS dependence and may assist in the prevention of initial consumption, which all too often leads to increased risk for related mortality and morbidity throughout a youth’s lifetime. Charts, tables, and references.