Yorktown Teen Accused of Shoplifting Cough Medicine

Yorktown police were called to the Taconic Pharmacy March 5 by employees who reported they had caught a shoplifter.

Police allege a 16-year-old Yorktown resident put two bottles of cough syrup in his jacket and attempted to leave without paying.

Police said they withheld the name of the teen because he is eligible for youthful offender status, something which can be granted by a judge.

According to the National Institutes of Health, some over-the-counter and prescription cough and cold medicines contain active ingredients that are mind-altering at higher-than-recommended dosages and are frequently abused for this purpose. These products may also contain other drugs, such as expectorants and antihistamines, which are dangerous at high doses and compound the dangers of abuse.

According to WebMD, a 2008 study found that one in 10 American teenagers has abused products with dextromethorphan -- the most common cough-suppressant -- to get high, making it more popular in that age group than cocaine, ecstasy, LSD, and meth.