German pharmacies warn of Rx drug abuse

The head of the German Pharmacists' Drug Commission (AMK), Thomas Beck, has warned that a number of drugs are being abused by teenagers who are taking them at high dose levels. The agents include dextromethorphan and diphenhydramine.

Prof Beck said pharmacies had been informed and would act against possible abuse. He noted that, in the USA in 2005, around 2.4 million young people between 13 and 19 were found to have abused dextromethorphan. Five died after purchasing the agent on the Internet.

Dextromethorphan is only obtainable in Germany in pharmacies in contrast to the USA. Although there is evidence of Internet drug purchase and abuse, there have been no deaths reported to date in Germany, the AMK reported.