(2) Refer the suspected abuser to a physician at the nearest medical
treatment facility. Inform the physician directly of the information and observations
regarding the patient.
NOTE:
In the medical chain of command, only the physician can notify the unit
commander of the suspected substance abuser.
NOTE:
Referral to the Alcohol and Drug Abuse Prevention and Control Program
(ADAPCP) must be made in accordance with AR 600-85, Department of the
Army's Alcohol and Drug Abuse Prevention and Control Program.
Section II. CARE FOR AN OVERDOSE PATIENT
NOTE:
This section provides instructions and guidance to care for an overdose
patient. It is also closely related to Section I, Identify a Suspected Substance
Abuser. You should be well familiar with the categories, signs, and symptoms
of commonly abused substances. You should look for signs (for example,
spoons, lamps, or pipes) that will identify the substance. Examining the
patient will give further clues of the agent used. Before beginning care for the
patient, you must obtain the patient's history.
1-6.
OBTAIN PATIENT'S HISTORY
a. Determine What was Taken. If there is a bottle, keep the bottle and its
remaining contents with the patient. The label on the bottle and the number of pills
remaining may give indication as to what and how much was ingested.
b. Determine When it was Taken. Speed and duration of different substances
vary markedly.
c. Determine How Much was Taken. It is important to know how much of the
substance the patient took.
d. Determine Route of Administration. Drugs can be taken by mouth or be
injected by needle intravenously, subcutaneously (just under the skin), or into muscles.
It is important to know if drugs were taken by any other route. Overdoses will usually
represent a combination of agents.
e. Determine What was Done to Correct the Situation. The patient may have
taken steps to help himself or bystanders may have assisted.
NOTE:
Street resuscitation procedures are frequently as dangerous as the overdose
itself, and the rescuer needs to know exactly what the patient has been given.
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