Hazard 1: Impair Healthy Physical Development

Long-term intake of cough syrup causes endocrine hormone disorders and severe complications including hypokalemia, epilepsy, severe osteoporosis, leukemia and toxic psychosis, which severely hinder adolescents’ growth and physical development.

Hazard 2: Damage Bodily Functions

• It severely injures oral mucosa and teeth, triggering recurrent oral ulcers and other infectious lesions that may develop into cancer over time.

• Addicts suffer loss of appetite, declined digestive function and intractable constipation, which may further lead to intestinal ischemia or necrosis.

• Prolonged abuse overloads the liver, and excess burden on the organ can be life-threatening.

• Normal respiratory function is disrupted, inducing sudden chest tightness, shortness of breath and dyspnea.

• Chemical ingredients in cough syrup irritate the cardiovascular system and trigger secondary infections, raising risks of cerebral embolism, large artery embolism, necrotizing vasculitis and other fatal conditions.

Hazard 3: Rapid Memory Loss

Cough syrup damages the brain and induces a range of nervous system disorders: amnesia, slow response, convulsions, parkinsonism, amblyopia and muscular dysfunction.

Hazard 4: Severe Psychological Disturbances

Excessive consumption may trigger sudden general weakness, convulsions, incontinence or unconsciousness. Severe cases involve mental disorders and leave lasting psychological trauma.

Hazard 5: Extreme and Radical Words and Behaviors

It disturbs adolescents’ psychology and conduct, triggering personality changes and abnormal behaviors such as lying, irritability, inferiority, social withdrawal, self-harm and suicidal tendencies.

Hazard 6: Collapsed Personality

Long-term addicts immerse themselves in self-isolation and sensory stimulation, resulting in distorted mental states marked by oversensitivity, paranoia and unprovoked hostility toward others, making normal life and work impossible.

Hazard 7: Ruined Family Bonds

Cough syrup addiction severely damages the addict’s family relationships.

Hazard 8: Heavy Financial Burden

Addiction imposes a crushing financial strain on the addicts and their families.

Hazard 9: Violation of the Law

When lacking funds to purchase cough syrup, addicts may resort to theft, robbery and other criminal acts, posing a serious threat to social stability.

Hazard 10: Slide Into Drug Abuse

Long-term cough syrup abusers who receive no treatment or inappropriate intervention are highly likely to take illicit drugs, severely endangering social security.