They're old remedies that are causing new concerns.

Most people take cough medicines to get rid of colds, but some teenagers are taking them to get high.

Many parents don't know about the potentially deadly hobby.

They're easily accessible at every drug store, but there's a danger lurking behind cough medicines.

Virtually every brand can be abused.

In the case of one teen it was Coricidin pills.

He took more than ten a day.

His mother said, "I think it's very, very possible he could have ended up dead."

Now her son is in counseling and she wants other parents to learn from her story.

While it is easy to buy cough medicine off the shelves, doctors say that doesn't excuse the dangers it can cause if you become addicted.

"Over the counter cough medicines often contain dextromethorphan, which is an excellent cough suppressant and when used appropriately is a great product. However it is a centrally acting, it works on the brain, and at eight to 12 times what we would normally consider for cough suppression, it can cause some strange central activities in the brain," said Dr. Sam Armitage.

So what are the warning signs? The most obvious is throwing up orange or red syrup.

But Doctor Armtiage says there are others.

"Frequently purchasing cough medicines, again the secretive behavior, behavior in which the child is often in an altered state of consciousness. They're difficult to rouse, they're confused, mystery injuries from falling down and hurting themselves," said Armtiage.

Robitussion may be called rob-o-trippin' and Coricidn is known as the Big C.

"I am hoping and praying that he commits himself to treatment if that's what's deemed necessary or at least get some type of help"

Because as one mom discovered, fooling around with medication can lead to a long road of recovery.

Doctors and pharmacists we talked with say the solution is not more regulations, but more time spent talking with kids and teenagers about the dangers of taking any medication to get high.

Source: NBC News