Hello! Welcome to another episode of Trip Report!

          Ever curious to know what taking a certain drug feels like? Ever intrigued to see how a specific substance would affect you, but scared you might get addicted or damage your mental and physical health? Well, great! Here at Trip Report, we try them for you! After doing excessive research and taking everything into safe matters, we are prepared to give you the experience you've always been curious about, but never had the desire to act on. Trip Report brings you all the details and questions that you've had piled up in your brain for all this time.

          In today's episode, we'll be exposing North America's hidden drug problem. A problem that has gone unnoticed for far too long, and needs to be brought to the attention of teenagers experimenting, along with safety precautions for parents dealing with a child using. 

          When most people think of psychedelic or dissociative drugs, usually LSD or mushrooms or ketamine come to mind. However, a less known drug has been abused by kids for many decades now—DXM (Dextromethorphan). Or, as edgy teenagers would call it, Robo Tripping.

          Jeremy writes on Trip Report: Won't ever forget the first time I did DXM. I was with a friend and our original plan was to pick up some MDMA from our dealer, but he happened to be out of town. My friend suggested that we go and try "Robo Tripping." Just like most people, I wasn't familiar with the substance, but being the druggie I was in high school, I obviously had to try it. Wow...never had a high quite like that before. It was so difficult to explain, but for the rest of my sophomore year I continued to abuse it, until I had to call it quits. Good times, but eventually I just grew out of it, and it's probably for the better.

          DXM is an OTC (over-the-counter) cough suppressant that anyone can purchase in North America. In other words, literally a twelve-year-old kid can walk into any Pharmacy and purchase this stuff. This is far easier than getting your hands on alcohol or weed if you're underage. The fact that the government has yet to make this a prescription-only substance goes to show a great lack of awareness, or ignorance, of how serious this situation is. 

          Typically, DXM comes in either capsules or cough syrup to treat colds and flues. But if one takes a larger dose than usual, or exceeds more than the recommended amount, they can experience a very strange, euphoric, and sometimes horrifying trip.

          Dextromethorphan abuse comes in four different plateaus, usually the scale that teenagers use to measure out their dosages of the trip they are about to take.

          First plateau: 100–200 mg. Lower doses of DXM can often produce feelings of euphoria and energy. In social situations, one may feel very talkative and positive. It's important to note that DXM is by no means a stimulant drug. Only in lower dosages will a user feel this kind of energy. In higher dosages, one may not even be able to stand up and walk, like they are heavily drunk, which we will talk about more later on in the episode.

          Michele writes on Trip Report: My first DXM trip was quite something. Originally when doing research on the substance, it was highly recommended not to use it if you were prescribed medications from a doctor, especially SSRIs. I had a small bottle I had bought off a friend, but couldn't muster up the courage to try it after what I read. Having said that, one night I was having a rough time, and I just said fuck it. I quickly chugged the bottle and hoped for the best. About an hour and a half later, I began to feel a euphoria building within me as I rested on my bed, eventually reaching the first plateau. It was very hard to describe, but I specifically remember a trippy thought about my friend walking on stilts—the tall ones that people walk on in the circus—and it made me laugh.

          Second plateau: 200–400 mg. This plateau is where the real DXM trip begins. Many users will feel heavily intoxicated by this point. Positive effects may include more euphoria and possibly even hallucinations. This dosage is where a user is more possibly able to experience negative side effects, such as depersonalization or dysphoria. One may begin to lose their sense of motor skills at this dosage, similar to that of being intoxicated with alcohol.

          Third plateau: 400–600 mg. Strong dissociation begins to occur around these doses. Users will most likely begin to forget their old, cognitive self, leaving them in states of unfamiliar patterns and trance-like mindstates. Some people may begin to panic during these higher doses, as they attempt to hold on to old beliefs about themselves and the world as they've come to know it. This is also the same state in which one may begin to question reality and everything around them.

          Florence writes on Trip Report: I began to lose grasp on my whole entire life. It felt like I was dying, but at the same time it was strangely euphoric and I enjoyed it. I kept thinking about the word and the universe, and how everything had come together as one. To say I was shocked would be an understatement. My friend told me about DXM and how I could literally walk into a pharmacy and just buy it without ID or anything. Being aware that it was so easy to get your hands on, I didn't expect much, and it was really just a drug I tried because I didn't have any other substances I could use. Oh my, is that stuff intense. I had a more profound experience on that crap than acid or mushrooms. Crazy shit.

          Fourth plateau: 500–1500 mg. This is the final and highest plateau for DXM without being a guaranteed lethal dose. Many individuals will have a full-on, out-of-body experience, leaving them with zero control over their motor skills. Obviously, the higher the dose, the more dangerous any drug can be. It is highly recommended within these excessive dosages that you have a trip-sitter—someone sober who can watch over you and make sure you're okay, and that none of your organs or body parts are shutting down. Clearly, not taking the substance at all will be your best bet, but if one insists on going through with such a high dose, they need to be prepared for what may come. Aggression and anger can be another common side effect at such high doses, similar to drugs like PCP (Phencyclidine).

          Another thing that should be mentioned is that DXM stays in your system for long durations of time. At higher doses, the DXM trip can last up to three days, sometimes even longer if your body hasn't built up a tolerance. 

          However, many users talk about their enjoyment of the DXM hangover, and some even find it more pleasurable than the initial trip. During the original high, users will most likely be impaired, and not be able to get much productivity done. Having said that, for many users, the DXM hangover can bring great energy and motivation to one's life.

          Daniel writes on Trip Report: I wasn't a huge fan of the DXM high. It was a little bit too intense for me, and I found myself worried at times. Having said that, when I woke up the following morning with the hangover, I had a great deal of positive energy. I found myself thinking about ways to positively benefit my life, and how I could improve the things that I wasn't aware were holding me back before the trip. I also went for a run later that same afternoon and hadn't worked out that hard in ages. It was so weird. During the initial trip the previous night, I could barely even walk to the bathroom. I felt like a skeleton with no skin, but during the hangover, I ran like a marathon runner training for the Olympics.

          Speaking of feeling like a skeleton, the term "Robo Tripping" gets its nickname because, typically, a user will feel like a robot walking around whenever they attempt to get up and use the bathroom. The most ideal position for the DXM trip is to be laying on your back while sitting on a bed, preferably in a dark room. If you think you've had a rough time making it home while you're drunk, you don't know jack shit until you're fucked up on DXM, floundering around the street like you're on an ice rink without skates. That's why it is very crucial to be in a safe, controlled environment when you consume the substance, so you don't have to be another victim of the infamous Robo walk. Try to imagine you have lost control of all the power inside your body and that you're wired up like nothing more than a programmed machine.

          So, we talked already about how DXM can be ingested, typically through gel capsules or in other brands of cough syrup. Ironically, but very much so when ingested in higher doses in syrup-form, DXM can produce bad gas within your digestion system. One's body is not meant to have so much product in their system, that their insides begin to resist the DXM. And not to mention, the taste of any liquid cough syrup is beyond tolerable. Again, if you think chewing psilocybin mushrooms is bad, you don't know jack shit until you chug a bottle of liquid DXM. That shit will send a chill down your spine, rippling upon each and every vertebra.

          Mason writes on Trip Report: After bullshitting the clerks at the pharmacy that I was sick and needed the medicine to treat my cold, I bought myself a soda and went to the public bathroom and locked myself in an available stall with the product in hand. I had read that the taste was horrific, so I tried to get it down into my stomach as fast as possible. I was literally gagging at times, having to instantly wash it back with my soda. It was utter torture. This went on and on as I started to abuse it before eventually quitting, but man the high was worth it every time. I think that might be my all-time DOC (drug of choice), but chugging those bottles was fucking hell.

          And this is why it's so, so important to make sure you know what you're consuming when going into the DXM trip. Most products that contain DXM will also include other ingredients, some seriously fatal in high doses, like acetaminophen (Tylenol), and could cause irreversible liver damage. The brand Triple C's is a common DXM product that contains many emergency room visits in teenage users, most of them losing their precious lives and entire potential for a quick, cheap high. 

          When consuming DXM in liquid form, you must, MUST make sure the product reads Dextromethorphan HYDROBROMIDE. If this is not the case, you have to look for the right product, if you're going through with it. You'll need to take your time and read the labels carefully, which can also lead to paranoia if taken too long, as the employees in the pharmacy will eventually catch on to any teenagers looming around in the cough syrup section.

           Marcus writes on Trip Report: It started getting awkward. In the prime days of my DXM abuse, I'd be walking up to the corner pharmacy every other day it seemed. The owner was always giving me weird looks, as if telling me he knew what I was up to. He never verbally confronted me, but he'd give an awkward, disappointed stare every time I purchased the product, making me question my usage at times. Still, it didn't stop me, as I continued with my cough syrup abuse, which would lead to negative long-term effects that still affect me to this very day.

          So...on that same topic, what are the most common side effects of DXM abuse? We'll now dive more into the darker side of using this drug. Many users will experience such as the following if the trip does not go according to plan: increased body temperature, hot flashes, sweating, nausea, dizziness, slurred speech, lethargy, hyperactivity, high blood pressure, slow breathing, irregular heartbeat, itching, rashing, involuntary eye movement, unconsciousness, seizures. However, one of the most common side effects that we hear from users on Trip Report, is their battle with depersonalization after ingesting the substance, specifically at higher doses.

          Depersonalization, also known as derealization, occurs when an individual is having anxiety to the point they feel an out-of-body experience. The purpose of depersonalization is your body signalling that it's sensing danger, also known as your fight or flight response. Depersonalization can be deeply frightening, especially if it's your first time experiencing a panic attack-like symptom. Users will feel very disconnected from themselves, as if living in a dream-like world of numbness. It is very important to stay calm and embrace the depersonalization, reminding yourself these symptoms will eventually fade, and that they are not permanent.

          Lindsey writes on Trip Report: It was utterly terrifying. I personally suggest that nobody touch this drug. As the initial effects kicked in, I felt absolutely fine. I was feeling lightheaded and calm and euphoric. Then about forty-five minutes later I began to have the strangest, scariest loss of self that I've EVER experienced. I was curled up in a ball, wanting this all to end so bad, and it felt like it lasted forever. I cannot stress it enough. Don't waste your time or health on this crap!

          Other risks may include heart stroke, risk of overdose, respiratory depression, and, as we mentioned once already, aggressive and dangerous behaviour. It is strongly suggested that one does not mix DXM with other substances. Drugs that stand out are alcohol, MDMA, ketamine, heroin, cocaine, PCP, LSD. When combining DXM with other substances, it enhances the chances of overdose and other negative side effects. The only drug that you can get away with mixing is cannabis, but not even that is suggested.

          It's also very important to make sure if you're mixing prescription drugs with the substance. SSRIs are the main ones that stand out. Serotonin Syndrome is a very common side effect with users who are currently prescribed anti-depressants. Serotonin Syndrome occurs when your brain is flooded with too much serotonin and creates a chemical imbalance in your mind. This can cause many of the following: confusion, disorientation, irritability, anxiety, muscle spasms, muscle rigidity, tremors, shivering, overactive reflexes, dilated pupils.

          Joshua writes on Trip Report: After years of constant DXM abuse, I now have long-term Serotonin Syndrome and I'm so, so scared for my future. It's been over six months since I last touched the substance, and I've never been the same. I strongly ask that people do not get into DXM. Yes, it's great and euphoric in the moment, but the long-term side effects are not worth it, and I can absolutely promise you that. I'm regularly speaking with a therapist to get back to my old self, but I fear that I'll never be the same again. If I could build myself a time-travel machine and go back in time, believe me, I would. Please...let my story be enough, and don't be that kid who has to try it.

          As we mentioned earlier, there are thousands and thousands of Emergency Room visits per year from teenagers attempting to get high on what is meant to treat a cold sickness, and nothing more. DXM is an unnoticed epidemic that so many people are unaware of. It is simply mind-boggling that the government has yet to take serious note of this problem. DXM abuse continues to go on and on, damaging the bodies and minds of teenagers and their young, developing brain chemistry.

          But is it time we make DXM a prescription-only substance? Users are going to get their hands on drugs anyway, but surely that would lessen the tragic deaths that take place every single day, and help us somewhat relieve the worry we go through every time our children hang out with their friends. At Trip Report, we do not condone any form of substance use—but if you're a teen insisting on getting high—please just stick to weed and alcohol. The long-term side effects of abusing cough syrup can have serious health issues later on into adultery, and can affect you for the rest of your life.

          Mckenzie writes on Trip Report: Personally, as someone who has immense experience with the substance, I strongly believe that we should take DXM off the counter completely. It's just Ludacris that we've yet to recognize how serious of a problem this drug is. The fact that any kid can walk into a pharmacy and purchase and abuse this dangerous substance shows just how far we have to go in society. Even with a prescription, kids are still going to get their hands on drugs, but by doing this we can save more lives and the damage this substance does to an individual.

          There have also been plenty of horror stories involving DXM. 

          Several users recorded taking the substance, and next thing they knew, were behind the wheel of a car, driving down the highway, with zero recollection of how they got there. 

          A woman even went as far as stabbing her two children with a pocket knife, convinced they were demons rising from the depths of hell to kill her. 

          Other users have brought up the fact they could not urinate properly after ingesting the substance, particularly at high doses and causing them to panic, leading to yet another hospital visit.

          And, just like any drug, DXM can cause addiction and dependence. After using it so many times, a user will need more and more of the substance to feel the same effects. This is particularly a good sign to stop and quit, but withdrawal may occur as well if going cold-turkey. DXM withdrawals are nothing compared to those of opioids and benzodiazepines, but can still be enough to lead to deep depression and anxiety and loss of motivation.

          Samantha writes on Trip Report. I couldn't even get out of bed without it. My whole life only consisted of DXM abuse. Those were the darkest days of my entire life. I felt like a soulless zombie, walking around everywhere without a purpose and numb to the world and my surroundings. DXM changed me deeply as a person. I now find myself paranoid in social situations and everyday occurrences that didn't cause great anxiety for me in the past. I can't help but think of the old version of myself, and wonder how much potential I could have excelled if I hadn't gotten into drugs.

          Social anxiety is a common side effect of dissociative drugs. One may feel confident and exuberant in the moment, but once they find themselves in a social situation, that confidence and euphoria can be lost. This again is why it's so crucial to stop teenagers from using these kinds of mind-altering drugs at such a young age. Their young brains need to process the world in a sober manner, or many side effects and personality traits can be developed in the long run.

          So, in the meantime, what can we do to reduce the harm reductions of DXM abuse? Well, first off, if you're going to use the substance, as we mentioned earlier in the episode, we please suggest that you use with someone else. This will lessen the dangers of overdose, and potential harm a user may cause to someone or themselves. Make sure you're aware of what you're taking, stick with low doses, avoid mixing with other substances, stay hydrated, and make sure you select a safe place to consume the substance. 

          We'll now begin to wrap up our episode, reflecting again on all the reasons to avoid DXM usage.

          Mariah writes on Trip Report: At the end of the day, DXM is NOT a safe substance to abuse. Just because it comes out of the pharmacy doesn't make it any less dangerous than taking drugs off the street. We highly suggest that you reconsider using DXM for recreational purposes, as we've had so many people tell us here at Trip Report how it's ruined their lives, and the lives around them of someone they knew. As we've stated before, let our stories be enough, and stay tuned for further episodes on Trip Report, and questions you have for other drugs you wish to try.

          And so there you have it. We've uncovered the truth behind the denial of North America's hidden epidemic. DXM is an unnoticed problem that is yet to be brought to the spotlight of our society. Please spread awareness, and let our youth be educated on the danger they might be getting themselves into by abusing cough syrup. 

          Overdose signs include the following: irregular breathing, high blood pressure, increased body temperature, vomiting, blurred vision, bluish skin, paranoia, hallucinations, severe drowsiness, muscle spasms, convulsions, and loss of consciousness.

          So, dear DXM...

          Do us a favour...

          Go fuck yourself.