Every Kashmiri home has a bottle of cough syrup in its cabinet. It's the first thing we reach for when the cold sets in or when a child starts coughing through the night.

The syrup promises comfort, relief, and quick recovery. But that same syrup, when taken beyond its prescribed limit, can turn fatal.

Most cough syrups contain substances like dextromethorphan, codeine, or chlorpheniramine, chemicals that work well in small doses but can act like psychoactive drugs when taken excessively.

Dextromethorphan, in particular, can alter brain function, leading to dizziness, confusion, hallucinations, and in severe cases, respiratory failure.

Codeine-based syrups, though available only on prescription, also carry the risk of addiction and overdose because of their opioid content.

In recent years, Kashmir has seen a worrying rise in the misuse of cough syrups, especially among teenagers and young adults. Some use them to escape stress or emotional pain, mixing syrups with soft drinks to create what they call“lean.”

The concoction may sound harmless, but it suppresses breathing, damages the liver, and can even push the heart into sudden failure.

Hospitals in the valley have reported a growing number of such cases, pointing to an emerging pattern of over-the-counter drug abuse.

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