Over-the-counter medication abuse

Youth are also abusing Diphenhydramine (Brand name examples: Benadryl, Sominex, Unisom Sleep Gels), one of the most widely utilized medications in America. The drug is defined and categorized as an antihistamine. Illicit uses of the drug have evolved over time due to those who find satisfaction with the drug as a hallucinogen. Because of its over-the-counter accessibility and low cost, the drug is popular option for users who are looking for a new experience that is cheap and easy to acquire. Recreational users of this drug can have very divergent experiences while under the influence of it. At low doses, the drug maintains its sedative properties and can increase the effects of alcohol or other central nervous system depressants. At high doses, the drug tends to interact with a separate set of transmitters and receptors that lead to hallucinogenic effects not unlike LSD, peyote (cactus buttons) and psilocibin (magic mushrooms). On the streets, the drug is referred to as "Ben-ees" or "Som-ees," terms that are rooted in the drugs widely recognized brand names. A person found intoxicated and impaired by this drug will exhibit classic "depressant" signs and symptoms. In the higher doses however, the drug may trigger dilation of the pupil, a sluggish response to the introduction of direct light, and claims of hallucinogenic symptoms. Speech may range from being slow to being thickly slurred. Performance on standard field sobriety tests will present similar to that of alcohol intoxication.