Schoolkids on a new drug called ‘syrup’

Parents beware – a new drug craze is on the rise.

A cough mixture containing codeine, which users call “syrup”, is popular among high school children who mix it with fizzy drinks in squeeze bottles to disguise it.

The syrup apparently causes them to experience a “high” almost like using nyaope. They buy the medicine from pharmacies.

Codeine is an opioid pain medication used to treat pain.

Although one does not need a prescription for schedule 1 and 2 medicines, you can only buy them from a pharmacy and they must be given to you by a pharmacist. Pharmacists are required by law to write down your name and the name and quantity of the medicine whenever you buy a schedule 1 or 2 medicine.

Medicines that include codeine are classified as schedule 2 medicines. They are not to be sold to anyone under the age of 14, and are only to be sold under personal supervision of a pharmacist.

Speaking to Caxton, a source said: “Parents are probably thinking their children are drinking juice in the bottles but they are actually drugging themselves and the effects are much worse as the drink leaves them like zombies. Some of the children are apparently selling syrup at school to those who do not have access.”

Vicki St Quintin from Adcock Ingram said the company was fully supportive of the responsible use of the medicines they market, “and especially those containing codeine”.

“We also fully support the scheduling changes published by the Medicines Control Council to regulate the availability of codeine-containing products.”

Report misuse at 0800-212762. – Caxton News Service