The short answer is that demand drives the drug trade as well as supply. In fact, there are many substances which a person could use to become intoxicated, most of them not what you may consider to be a recreational drug. Case in point, today's Rocky headline, Cough syrup abuse rises. Here's a bit:
The medicine's active ingredient is dextrometh-orphan, or DXM or Dex, which can cause fanciful hallucinations but also seizures, agitation and permanent kidney and liver damage.
DXM is found in more than 120 nonprescription cough and cold medicines, including Robitussin, Vicks NyQuil and Vicks Formula 44.
Abuse of cough medicine has come in and out of popularity for at least 40 years, but now, in metro Denver, it is a growing, dangerous problem.
A local man was killed while trying to get high on cough medicine a few months ago, which is about one more than has been killed by smoking pot in recorded history.
What's most revealing is a collection of statistics included with the article.
Colorado calls to the Rocky Mountain Poison and Drug Center, and the type of drug involved, in the past two years
Drug 2002 2003
Marijuana 92 100
Heroin 14 24
Cocaine 109 137
Methamphetamine 71 82
Cough medicines/ dextromethorphan 229 275
Codeine 153 188
Painkillers/ oxycodone 602 809
Sleeping pills, tranquilizers/ benzodiazepines 1,012 1,212
Methadone 87 97
Morphine 150 208
Ethyl alcohol 270 248
Total calls 68,245 67,463
Note that calls regarding cough medicine/dex each of the last two years outnumbered calls for marijuana, cocaine and heroin combined.
I'd kinda like to know what the answers the Poison Control Center gives out to the marijuana calls.
"My son has been smoking pot! He's stoned now! What do I do!?!"
"Calm down, ma'am. Now, is your son near any sweet or salty substances? Move those out of his sight. Put on a DVD with lots of bright colors; a few portions of popcorn are allowable until he is "down," but do be careful of the cholesterol in any butter or butter-substitutes..."