Beware: teens drinking hand sanitizer to get drunk

If you think the reason your teen is stocking up on hand sanitizer stems from a sudden interest in personal hygiene, think again. Media in Los Angeles are reporting that teens are getting drunk off the thick, gel-like substance and landing in hospital emergency rooms.

Teens are using the hand sanitizer, which contains 62 percent ethyl alcohol, to create potent cocktails using bath salt to separate out the alcohol.

According to the Los Angeles Times, six teens in the Los Angeles area were treated for alcohol poisoning in the last few months, a trend that's prompting public health authorities to ask parents and other adults to be on their guard for a suspicious interest in hand sanitizers.

It's not the first time teens have turned to unsuspecting products to get a quick buzz. Other over-the-counter products that have been manipulated into makeshift booze include mouthwash, cough syrup and vanilla extract.

For concerned parents, meanwhile, experts suggest using foam hand sanitizers instead of gels.