Abuse of dextromethorphan-based cough syrup as a substitute for licit and illicit drugs: a theoretical framework.

Drug abuse has been a national social problem in the United States for decades and is often complicated by the emergence of new types of abused drugs or new forms of abuse. The forms of abuse, particularly by young persons, include the search for substitutes for better-known substances. It is unclear, however, what factors determine the choice of drug or substance for experimentation, considering the wide range of choices. This paper attempts to delineate the factors which make Dextromethorphan-based cough syrup an attractive choice.