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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!
There's a heroin epidemic in my part of the North-East/Atlantic. Sad thing is it's mostly kids/young adults. And they start out pretty innocent - back surgery after injury at work, prescribed Vicodin, then Percocet then.... eventually Doc cuts 'em off and then they start shooting heroin because withdrawal is just awful. It is truly depressing
Alcohol as well.
We also see a smattering of cocaine, weed (surprisingly given our location) and E. Haven't seen a PCP or Meth case ... yet (Dear God did I just jinx myself?! )
- Roy
What is spice?This coming from a former substance abuse nurse...
Users smoke the drug. Remember the incense we used to burn in the 1970s, spice is sort of like that. Or alot of times Nutmeg in huge quantities that are soaked in chemicals are added in. Mostly comes from China and is sold in Smoke Shops in some states. The 'recipe' changes quite often to avoid law enforcement, so users have no idea what is in each batch and the effects can be varied.
Altra, BSN, RN
6,255 Posts
Truth! Summer festival/concert season will bring Molly, other forms of Esctasy, and Spice/synthetic hallucinogens.