What is triple c and why is this used

The Triple C Checklist of Communicative Competencies is a tool communication specialists use to assess the communication skills of adults with severe and multiple disabilities functioning at unintentional to early symbolic levels. Five stages comprise the Triple C, and the checklist is completed by support workers and care takers who are familiar with the handicapped adults in question.

Unintentional Passive

The first stage of the Triple C is called the unintentional passive stage. Unintentional passive describes a state in which an individual's behaviors produced in response to either internal or external stimuli are assigned intent or meaning by a communicative partner. For example, a person in the unintentional passive stage would show awareness of sounds and voices. This person would also visually follow slowly moving objects or other people. An example of a person in the unintentional passive stage would be a person who could stare at a radio and thus indicate to a caretaker that the person would like to listen to some music.

Unintentional Active

A person in the unintentional active stage attempts to act purposefully on objects. These behaviors would then be assigned meaning or intention by a communicative partner. People in the unintentional active stage reach or move towards familiar people in familiar situations. These people can also reach for objects in indicate preferences. For example, if a caretaker were to offer a person in this stage both an apple and an orange, the person could reach for his fruit of choice.

Intentional Informal

A person in the intentional informal stage can act upon the environment to create specific effects. These actions would result in communication attempts through informal rather than symbolic means. This person can imitate novel behaviors and use other people to get objects. For example, a person in the intentional informal stage might point at his mouth to show a caretaker that he was hungry.

Basic Symbolic

Someone in the basic symbolic stage can integrate information from each of his senses. He can also use trial and error to solve simple problems and use conventionally understood symbols within limited contexts. This person could give or show an object to a caretaker in order to make the caretaker perform some action. This person can also follow simple instructions once they become routine. For example, this person could give a jar to a caretaker for help opening it, or learn to use a napkin after finishing meals.

Established Symbolic

People in the established symbolic stage can solve problems thinking through them. These people have internal representations and can use symbols in a range of contexts. A person in the established symbolic stage can predict cause and effect relationships and use pictures for choice making. For example, you could show a person in the established symbolic stage an illustrated menu, and he could point to which food he preferred.

Have you ever heard of Triple C? You may be surprised to know that this term represents a seemingly common yet possibly dangerous medication.

What Is Triple C?

Triple C is a slang term for a brand of over-the-counter cough medicine called Coricidin HBP Cough & Cold. This brand uses a medication called dextromethorphan, which can cause hallucinations if taken in high doses.

This type of medicine is usually in the form of a small red pill that comes in a few varieties designed for: chest pain & congestion, cold & cough, or the flu. Triple C is typically swallowed but can also be snorted or injected. The pill is usually available over-the-counter at drug stores, and some powdered forms exist.

Triple C is usually safe when taken every 6 hours; but because of its effects, it is sometimes taken recreationally and in higher doses than recommended.

What Triple C Can Do

People commonly misuse Triple C in pursuit of euphoria and hallucinogenic effects that produce a type of high coined as “robotripping,” which may be similar to what people experience when they use PCP. When someone is robotripping and having hallucinations from this medicine, their body might be experiencing:

  • Vision changes
  • Stomach issues and pain
  • Loss of muscle control
  • Irregular heartbeat
  • Increased body temperature
  • Nausea
  • Brain damage

Since these symptoms can be highly dangerous, especially for someone who is not in their correct state of mind, it’s important to know the signs that someone might be using or “robotripping:”

  • Sweatiness
  • Slurred speech
  • Vomiting
  • Rapid eye movement
  • Dizziness or loss of balance
  • Drowsiness
  • Paranoia

The high from Triple C can last up to 6 hours & can impact a person’s vision and thought processes. Since a person is not seeing or thinking clearly while under the influence of the drug, they’re at risk of harming themselves or others.

Abusing Triple C

The most common group who uses Triple C are teenagers — which makes sense, considering Triple C is one of the many street names for the drug. Some others include:

  • DMX or dex (short for the full medication name, dextromethorphan
  • Candy (because of their candy-like appearance)
  • Skittles
  • Red devils

Teenagers are more likely to use this drug because of:

  1. Its low cost compared to illicit drugs
  2. Accessibility — either on the shelf and easy to steal or affordable to purchase

If you think your teenager might be using Triple C, keep an eye out for missing medicine in your cabinet, empty medicine wrappers, declining grades, changed behavior, and the physical signs above.

Triple C Takeaways

Since Triple C can also be sold online, it’s important to look for the signs to prevent or stop abuse as soon as possible. The most reliable treatment for Triple C is cognitive behavioral therapy, along with other professional methods.

When used properly, this medication can truly help alleviate the symptoms of the cold, cough, & flu; however, it can easily be used irresponsibly and cause a suite of possibly irreversible issues. If you know someone who might be abusing Triple C, please contact a medical professional or reach out to the admissions team at 866-345-2147.

What is Tricple C?

Coricidin HBP Cough & Cold is a known brand of cold and cough medicine. It is more recognizable, maybe, by its street name, Triple C. It may also be called skittles, candy, red devils, DXM, or dex because of the dextromethorphan it contains.

What drug is CCC?

CCC, also known as Triple C, is a cold and cough medicine. It is an over-the-counter medication that contains dextromethorphan.

Why Triple C is used?

Triple C contains dextromethorphan, an antitussive found in over 120 over-the-counter cold medications either by itself or alongside other drugs such as analgesics, decongestant antihistamines, and expectorants. We use Triple C to help relieve coughs.

How old do you have to be to buy Triple C's?

Buying over-the-counter medicine like Triple C means that technically, no age restrictions exist regarding who may use or purchase it. However, some stores have enforced a policy that only people over 18 years old can buy certain cough and cold medicine.

How many Mg are in Triple C's

Triple C is available in varying doses of dextromethorphan. It can come in red tablets containing 30mg of DXM, red soft gel capsules containing 10mg of DXM, and red oblong capsules containing 15mg of DXM.

How long does it take for Triple C's to kick in?

Many factors can influence how long it takes for Triple C to start affecting the body. Some of these factors include the dosage, other substances that one may take, Triple C, and the person's body mass index (BMI).

However, it usually takes around 30 minutes to an hour for a person to start feeling its effects and could take 2 to 4 hours before peaking.

Is Triple C addictive?

Most users of Triple C do not get addicted to it. However, abusing it, also called "robotripping," or "skittling," is very dangerous. Triple C's frequent use, particularly in high doses, could lead to severe substance abuse disorder or addiction.

Can you overdose on Triple C?

Triple C is usually safe and effective when people take the recommended amounts of 10 to 30mg every six hours. However, frequent use and exceptionally high doses of Triple C can cause adverse effects on the body, such as an overdose.

The symptoms of a Triple C overdose can include the following:

  • Breathing problems

  • Increased body temperature

  • Seizures

  • Intense hallucinations

  • Coma

What happens when you take too much Coricidin?

Taking too much Coricidin can lead to an overdose. Symptoms of an overdose may include:

  • Nausea

  • Vomiting

  • Loss of appetite

  • Sweating

  • Stomach or abdominal pain

  • Extreme tiredness

  • Agitation

  • Confusion

  • Flushing

  • Hallucinations

  • Yellowing eyes or skin

  • Dark urine

  • Seizures

The possible effects in children are much worse and could begin with excitement, followed by loss of coordination, drowsiness, loss of consciousness, or seizures.

Can Coricidin HBP raise blood pressure?

Taking decongestants during a cold may reduce the effectiveness of blood pressure medications. Taking any decongestant medication alongside blood pressure medications necessitates consulting a physician first.

However, Coricidin HBP is a decongestant that does not raise blood pressure.

What is Dextromethorphan?

Dextromethorphan is an over-the-counter antitussive usually found in cold medications. We use it to treat symptoms that typically result from colds or upper-respiratory allergies. When taken in high doses, it becomes a hallucinogen that changes a person's perception.

What are the side effects of taking Dextromethorphan?

Dextromethorphan is a substance that can cause hallucinations and adversely affect a person's behavior. When abused through "robotripping," or "skittling," it can cause both euphoria and delirium. The higher dose of the substance taken, the more intense its side effects can become. Some side effects of taking dextromethorphan include:

  • Hyperexcitability

  • Lethargy

  • Ataxia

  • Slurred speech

  • Sweating

  • Hypertension

  • Nystagmus

  • Impaired motor function

  • Numbness

  • Dissociative episodes

  • Audio and visual hallucinations

  • Nausea

  • Vomiting

  • Increased heart rate

  • High blood pressure

  • Agitation

  • Elevated body temperature

  • A build-up of acid in body fluids

Effects can take as long as 6 hours to wear off when taken in excessively high doses.

Who should not take Dextromethorphan?

People who are taking medications such as isocarboxazid (Marplan), phenelzine (Nardil), selegiline (Eldepryl, Emsam, Zelapar), and tranylcypromine (Parnate) should not take dextromethorphan. Additionally, people experiencing chronic cough that occurs with smoking, emphysema, asthma, or any condition that produces a large amount of mucus and phlegm should not use medication containing dextromethorphan.

We cannot give over-the-counter cough medicine containing dextromethorphan to children under four years old. These medications can have life-threatening effects on very young children.

Can Dextromethorphan make you feel weird?

When dextromethorphan is consumed in excessively high doses, it can induce a state of psychosis with symptoms like delusions, paranoia, and hallucinations.

How do you treat Triple C abuse?

One essential step to treating Triple C abuse is to educate yourself on the effects of its primary active ingredient, dextromethorphan. Understanding the dangers of this substance allows you to educate your loved ones about its risks as well.

If you or a loved one continue to abuse Triple C, it is never too late. Rehab facilities like Recovery Blvd can provide professional, evidence-based treatment that will address your personal needs.

At Recovery Blvd, we can help you or someone you love overcome substance abuse and steer clear of suffering a drug overdose. We have a range of programs and treatments aimed towards education about prescription drug risks and effects, recovering from substance abuse, preventing addiction progression, and helping you establish a brand new direction and outlook in life.

Some of our therapies include:

  1. Advanced Relapse Prevention

  2. Substance Abuse Counseling

  3. Recovery Crossfit

With enough support and the right treatment, you can leave Triple C abuse behind and begin on a fresh path towards a better future.

If you would like to know more about Recovery Blvd, please call us at (866) 231-3007. You can also visit our drug recovery center in Portland at 1316 SE 12th Avenue, Portland, OR 97214, to book an appointment.

Disclaimer: This post serves a strictly educational use. It does not reflect the services, products, or therapeutic approaches of this establishment or its healthcare practitioners. The purpose of this blog is not to advertise the products, services, or therapeutic approaches of any other establishment that may be associated with this site. On the subject of safe or legal services, products, and appropriate therapies, recommendations ought to be given by a qualified professional on a case to case basis.