6 teenagers hospitalized after drinking hand sanitizer, health experts fear a trend

A dangerous new practice among teenagers converts hand sanitizer, a household product intended to prevent illness, into a distilled 120 proof shot of alcohol.

Six teenagers were recently admitted into the emergency room at the Children's Hospital of Los Angeles after consuming the liquid to get drunk, reports MSNBC.

The average bottle of hand sanitizer contains around 62 percent ethyl alcohol. CBS reports the teens are using salt to separate the alcohol from the sanitizer.

Previously teenagers have guzzled cough syrup, mouthwash and vanilla extract to get drunk, The Los Angeles Times notes.

The Huffington Post reports health experts believe the trend could become an increasing problem if it goes viral since the product is inexpensive and available at most stores.

Doctors recommend buying foam hand sanitizer, which is more difficult to distill, reports Fox News.