What is commonly abused by consuming a large amount of cough medication?

The correct answer is commonly associated with cough medication because many over-the-counter cough syrups contain codeine, which is an opioid. When consumed in large amounts, codeine can lead to euphoric effects due to its psychoactive properties, which is why it is often abused. Individuals may misuse cough medications that contain codeine to achieve a high or to self-medicate, not fully recognizing the dangers of this practice.

Due to its potential for abuse, many countries regulate the sale and distribution of codeine-containing cough medications. While other substances like oxycodone, valium, and heroin are also associated with substance abuse, they are typically not constituents of cough medications. Oxycodone is a prescription medication for pain, valium is a benzodiazepine used to treat anxiety, and heroin is an illicit drug derived from morphine. Thus, the context of cough medication specifically points towards codeine being the substance of concern due to its presence in such products and its potential for misuse.