One in 10 teens have abused cough medicine to get high, according to the Partnership for a Drug-Free America. And, one in four knows someone who has.

Christie Crandell learned her son was abusing cough medicine the hard way, after he got in trouble with the law.

She says her oldest son is serving a 13 year prison sentence for crimes committed while under the influence of cough medicine and marijuana.

Teens like Christie’s son are using 10 to 15 times the recommended dose to get high.

It’s the active ingredient dextromethorphan that teens are taking, which is found in over the counter cough medicines.

Christie now knows all too well the signs to look for. She says, “You should look for empty bottles, empty containers, empty medicine cabinet; the symptoms are confusion and slurred speech.”

Christie and four other moms are trying to get the word out to other moms about the growing trend of cough medicine abuse.

They want to bring awareness to parents before they end up like Christie’s son.

Virginia Cox with Consumer Healthcare Products says, “It's important for parents to know about it so they can have discussions with their children.”

It might prevent you from the heartache and financial strain Christie and her son are going through now.

Christie and the Consumer Healthcare Products Association are involved in the grassroots campaign called Five Moms: Stopping Cough Medicine Abuse.

They are trying to grow the awareness base from five moms who are personally affected to five million around the nation.

For more information on the grassroots campaign, watch News 4 Tuesday morning at 6AM for a more in-depth interview with Christie.