Sitka Police warns of Cough Medicine trend - kinyradio.com

Juneau, Alaska (KINY) - The Sitka Police Department is warning Sitkans about school kids taking part in a social media trend known as the "Triple C challenge."

The trend originated on TikTok, a social app used to create and share videos. The challenge prompts teens to take dangerously high amounts of Coricidin Cough & Cold medicine to get a "high" feeling.

Serena Wild, Assistant to Sitka's Police Chief, said they had received a report from a local grocery store saying they were concerned about how much the middle schoolers seemed to be purchasing the cough medicine.

Wild said they reviewed the footage and noticed the medicine was disappearing off the shelves, and that it seemed like middle schoolers were in the area of the shelves when the items were going missing.

Coricidin Cough & Cold medicine is an addictive over-the-counter medicine with no age limitation to purchase, the pills are red and have "CC" stamped on them. The pills have also been referred to as "skittles" because the pill resembles the candy.

"We are urging that all Guardians and caregivers of students to talk to their kids and make sure they're aware of the dangers of taking these medications in large amounts and the repercussions that could have to their bodies," Wild said. "These medications are not made to be taken in that larger quantities, and we are just concerned about the kids and want to make sure nobody gets hurt or ODs on this."

According to Sitka Police, the effects can range from stomach pain and nausea to irregular heartbeat and brain damage. Symptoms of an overdose include breathing problems, increase in body temperature, intense hallucinations, seizures and coma.

Frank Hauser, Sitka Schools Superintendent, said in an email that the district has received no reports of students engaging in the challenge, but said a principal took a proactive approach after hearing about the "challenge" from a local grocer.

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