Taber police warn residents of increased cough syrup thefts

By MEDICINE HAT NEWS on February 28, 2026.

newsdesk@medicinehatnews.com

Police in Taber say they are noticing a concerning trend of an increase in thefts of cough syrup occurring within the community, and released a community alert Thursday afternoon.

Subsequently, officers say they have been responding to an increased number of calls involving behaviours associated with the abuse of Dextromethorphan (DXM), found in the over-the-counter medication.

In response police say they will be asking local retailers in the community that sell DXM products to consider placing them behind the counter and implementing policies to limit sales to adults.

“While these steps may help locally, DXM products can still be obtained in other communities and online,” says Graham Abela, police chief. “For that reason, we are providing the following information to outline the health risks, side effects and signs of misuse so parents and community members can remain informed and vigilant.”

Abela says abuse of DXM can pose serious health risks, particularly among youth, including rapid heartbeat, high blood pressure, extreme dizziness, nausea, vomiting and seizures.

“Individuals may experience intense confusion, paranoia, panic attacks, hallucinations, or a complete loss of contact with reality,” explains Abela.

Additionally, many products that contain DXM also include other medications like acetaminophen, and ingesting large quantities can result in permanent liver damage or failure.

“In severe cases, overdose can be fatal or cause long-term neurological complications,” adds Abela.

Police are encouraging residents in the community to be aware of signs of misuse, including discarded cough medicine bottles found in unusual places or large quantities of medicine missing from the home.

Behavioural changes of users can include sudden shifts in peer groups, alerted sleeping patterns, declining school performance, withdrawal from family activities and loss of interest in normal routines.

Abela says physical indicators can include slurred speech, lethargy, impaired co-ordination, glassy eyes and unexplained sweating.

“The Taber Police Service encourages parents and guardians to monitor medications in the home, have open conversations with youth about substance misuse and report suspicious theft activity to police,” says Abela.

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