What is the drug of choice in your area?

Published

Where I live, the drug of choice is almost exclusively heroin. I am well versed in the treatment of heroin overdoses and the resources for those who use, as we have several per day on average. I've never dealt with a patient on bath salts, meth, crack, etc. , at least to my knowledge. I'm getting ready to relocate to a different region and i'm realizing I may have to educate myself on other presentations for other substances!

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in LTC.

Meth and Norco. Loads of both.

Up Vote Up Vote ×

Hands down...alcohol. The most deadly too.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in ICU Stepdown.

Heroin and alcohol

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in ICU Stepdown.

Opioids

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in Emergency & Trauma/Adult ICU.

You're right that it is very region-dependent. Here in the urban northeast, it's heroin, alcohol, and a fair amount of crack and other forms of cocaine. We saw lots of "bath salts" and other synthetic hallucinogens a few years ago ... less so now.

Drug of choice is highly variable to age/demographics, as well.

Up Vote Up Vote ×

We have cycles but alcohol, heroin, spice/meth/cocaine seem to be the most common, in that order. Every once in a while someone comes in complaining of dry mouth, rapid heart rate, and generally feeling "weird" after eating some kind of marijuana edible.

Up Vote Up Vote ×

Opioids and meth.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in ER, Med/Surg.

Lots of heroin and spice causing "seizures".

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in Family Nurse Practitioner.
Lots of heroin and spice causing "seizures".

Spice actually can cause seizures. We've had a couple that ended up intubated.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in ER, Trauma, Med-Surg/Tele, LTC.

Alcohol, meth, cocaine, and opioids in that order. I've had ecstasy, benzos, and bath salts a couple of times. Haven't had a single patient for spice though.

Up Vote Up Vote ×

There's a run of spice going through Phoenix. We also have heroin and meth. Lots of alcohol abusers. They outnumber the rest, I'd say, 10:1.

We have a few prescription abusers that like to hang out in OBS until they can get their prescriptions refilled on Monday. They always run out on Friday after 5:00, somehow.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
+ Join the Discussion