Vodka tampons?!?

[Christy1019, ASN, RN]

recently there was a local news report about this new disturbing trend of teenagers inserting vodka soaked tampons lady partslly and rectally (males are doing this too), because they believe it's a quicker, more intense way to get drunk and not end up reeking of booze when they go home. has anyone else heard of this or even seen it in your ed? first it was snorting bath salts, now this? what the heck is wrong with people anymore?

here's the story one of our ed docs posted:

vodka tampons to get drunk?

robert glatter, md, emergency medicine, 10:19pm nov 13, 2011

if you haven't already seen this in your ed, some female teenagers have a new and dangerous way that they are experimenting with alcohol--soaking tampons in vodka. rectal use has also been reported with males and females as well.

apparently, some teenagers believe that it is a more rapid, lasting and intense way to get drunk. law enforcement as well as eds throughout the country are seeing this in increasing numbers over the past year apparently, according to a recent news story out of phoenix.

from a physiological standpoint, ethanol gets absorbed directly and rapidly from the lady parts since its a highly vascular structure, and without any barriers, leading to higher serum levels of ethanol more rapidly.

beer bongs have also been utilized rectally in the same concept as a vodka soaked tampon- leading to the same rapid effect of alcohol intoxication.

teens apparently have turned to this method because they believe that they can hide the smell of alcohol from their parents as well as the police. they have also figured out that this method can avoid the nausea and vomiting and other obvious signs of ethanol intoxication- the only issue is that they often pass out before realizing that they have had too much to drink. (incidentally, it has been reported that a super tampon can hold about a shot of vodka, which is quite potent when it's absorbed directly into the bloodstream)

it is important to emphasize to teens that they will not pass a breathalyzer test because they didn't drink the booze-- the assay obviously checks for checks for a systemic alcohol level-not what is expired in their breath.

er personnel need to be aware that patients who present to an ed with a depressed level of consciousness, without the smell of alcohol and clinical suspicion for ongoing intoxication need to have a rectal and lady partsl exam to exclude tampons or other foreign bodies as a source of ongoing chemical intoxication. this could obviously lead to a delay in care (and diagnosis), as well as a source of ongoing intoxication, if this is missed on physical exam.

robert glatter, md

[ICU_RN2]

I don't work in the ED,but here in NW Pennsylvania, I have heard of kids doing this too.....so bizarre!!

[netglow, ASN, RN]

Well now.

See, it's plain simple. I have no sympathy for these people. I am sure that the female "types" who do this, also believe that somehow that alcohol will prevent infection, sexually transmitted disease, and prevent pregnancy as well. I'm willing to bet that the irritation in repeated and prolonged practice might very will cause tissue breakdown, lead to infection and infertility that is permanent...

[Bonnie86]

Those crazy kids! What will they think of next?!

[JustBeachyNurse, LPN]

What about "eyeballing vodka"---holding the eye open, while surrounding it with a shot glass full of vodka or grain alcohol. Theoretically the sclera & other eye structures will absorb the alcohol without "going" through the gastric system or blood stream. Yep. Can actually burn the eye and cause serious damage.

http://www.newser.com/story/89268/dumbest-new-drinking-game-vodka-eyeballing.html

http://washingtonexaminer.com/local/dc/teens-warned-about-dangers-pouring-vodka-their-eyes

[Christy1019, ASN, RN]

well when i was doing some research on this I found something about these "geniuses" also now SNORTING vodka?? umm isn't that equivalent to drowning?? And to think these people will be taking care of us when we're old!

[DaughteroftheKing]

I just heard of this last week!! So gross & so stupid!

[floridanurse1983]

People who are harmed doing these things should be Darwin Award Winners. Thinning the herd and all LOL.

Jokes aside, these are harmful and can cause permanent damage. Who comes up with this crap???????????

[fuzzywuzzy, CNA]

errr... I think this is the beginnings of an urban legend. I don't see how anyone CAN insert a tampon that's soaking wet. I mean, try it: drop one in a glass of water and see how successful you are at getting it up there.

As for taking it through the eye or snorting it... how incredibly painful. I can't see anyone doing it that way either.

[everthesame, LPN, LVN]

I would imagine they use the plastic applicator type of tampon and pour the alcohol inside the applicator.

[lifelearningrn, BSN, RN]

Well now.

See, it's plain simple. I have no sympathy for these people. I am sure that the female "types" who do this, also believe that somehow that alcohol will prevent infection, sexually transmitted disease, and prevent pregnancy as well. I'm willing to bet that the irritation in repeated and prolonged practice might very will cause tissue breakdown, lead to infection and infertility that is permanent...

Well then, I guess you never did or thought of anything ridiculous when you were a teenager. Good for you. In the real world, teens do stupid ****. Having no 'sympathy' for their ignorance and age (and therefore lack of wisdom in most things) makes me kind of sad, since you're supposed to be in a caring field.

[lelafin]

We were doing a lecture on substance abuse last week, and one of my classmates was telling us about how her 11 year old daughter has friends who will crush up smarties candies and inhale them?!???!! REALLY?! WHY?!! Sugar high? They think it looks cool??? Hah, it's not funny but I'm just smh. And they ingeniously call it "smoking smarties".