SEARCHHow to Change Text Size
Now with this responsive web design, you can easily change the text size to fit your eyesight needs.
If you browse on a desktop computer, a modern web browser will allow you to hold down the Ctrl key (Command key on a Macintosh) and press the + or - key to increase or decrease the text size, and 0 to go back to the default size.
On a smartphone or a tablet, you can simply pinch open on the screen to zoom in (i.e. to enlarge) and pinch close to zoom out (i.e. to reduce) everything.
You may also change the text size from the menu.
On the Page menu, select Zoom, then Larger.
Cough syrup is commonly available in local pharmacies as over-the-counter flu remedy. It helps us to alleviate discomfort when suffering from flu, like cough and runny nose. Unfortunately, it is also a common choice of drug by substance abusers. It can be regarded as cough syrup abuse, when cough syrup is used not for the purpose of flu remedy, or using more than what being prescribed by doctor.
The three common ingredients of cough syrup are:
However actual ingredient and its amount may varies in different preparations, some are even being illegally manufactured and they may contain dangerous adulterants.
Cough syrup produces stimulant effects similar to amphetamine, because of the ephedrine it contains. One would experience euphoria, talkativeness and being over-energetic after abusing cough syrup, abusers may enjoy this feeling of boastfulness and boosted sociability.
Codeine, just as other morphine-like substances, for example heroin, would eventually produce physical and psychological dependent state after continuous use. To maintain the desirable effects or suppress unpleasant withdrawal symptoms, one has to keep using more and more cough syrup, even against his own will.
The commonest problem is poor dental hygiene. Cough syrup reduces saliva secretion, the syrup enhances growth of bacteria in the mouth, and together they cause severe dental caries and bad breath, significantly affecting one’s appearance and social functions.
Heavy use of cough syrup can lead to restlessness, irregular heartbeat, insomnia, irritability. In certain people who are prone to develop mental disorder, cough syrup abuse can produce an acute mental disorder with features similar to schizophrenia, such as hearing voice, illogical thought, confused speech and disorganized behaviour. In certain cases the mental abnormality would not cease by stopping cough syrup abuse alone, and these people have to be maintained with psychiatric medication for life.
Once dependence state is established, one would lose his control over cough syrup abuse and has to keep using it, no matter he is willing or not. Otherwise he has to endure weeks of distressing withdrawal symptoms including insomnia, restlessness and physical discomfort.
Certain ingredients of cough syrup, for example codeine and dextromethorphan, are listed as “part I poison” in Hong Kong law. Even though cough syrup can be easily obtained from local pharmacies, sometimes without doctor’s prescription, illegal possession of cough syrup is in fact a criminal offense and liable to imprisonment.
(Special thanks to Dr Ricky Tung of Institute of Mental Health, Castle Peak Hospital, for authoring this article)
