The increasing use of methamphetamines and synthetic and semisynthetic cannabinoids in Barbados may spell trouble for medical practitioners.
During a presentation entitled The Changing Drug Scene: Insights And Implications For Medical Professionals, held yesterday in the Queen Elizabeth Hospital’s (QEH) main auditorium, research and information officer with the National Council on Substance Abuse (NCSA), Laura Lee Foster, said the lack of practical knowledge of these emerging substances could present doctors with problems attempting to treat those who abused them.
Challenging
“When we’re talking about a changing drug situation and in a country like ours where we have traditionally seen alcohol, marijuana, cocaine, that sort of thing, then when new substances start to pop up, it makes it challenging for clinicians to know exactly what guidelines exist and where to find them. Things might happen on the fly where you find it difficult to locate the resources to help you best manage the case,” she said.
Foster said there was also a risk to first responders, who might be unaware of the apparatuses used to abuse the drugs and therefore could be exposed.
“Now something else to consider as we get more and more of these newer drugs on the ground in Barbados is that now we start to have the very real possibility of risk of exposure for our first responders. You may inadvertently become exposed to these drugs when you’re dealing with a drug-related case; somebody might have something in their pocket or on their person.
“You just never know what can happen. So, of course, that brings with it occupational risk but also risk to personal health and safety as well,” she said.
The researcher said methamphetamines and synthetic and semisynthetic cannabinoids were very unpredictable in nature, as there was no sure way of knowing their components or potency without extensive research.
She said physicians often had to rely on the patients themselves to tell them what they had taken, cautioning that sometimes the patients might not fully know.
“The possibility for persons using combined things is growing, combinations that we can’t be sure of and when you put these things together, of course the effects will differ depending on what is combined at any given time. That means that the effects are not only very dangerous but they’re difficult to predict as well.
“If you have someone who is coming in with a drug-related complication, time is probably of the essence. You’re not necessarily going to have time on your hands in order to figure it out. You need to figure it out fast in terms of diagnosis and making sure that you get the correct treatment in line for them, especially if it is something like an overdose or an adverse reaction.
“That brings us to another challenge: how do we know exactly what the patient has taken? This is where the diagnostic difficulties become particularly relevant,” she said.
Foster said there continued to be a lack of the proper biological testing of these types of drugs, which meant Barbados was always playing catch-up.
Clinical guidance
She then advised the audience on the best ways to move forward: Be alert and recognise; access and apply available clinical guidance, such as the United Kingdom’s Project Neptune; stay current and seek training; know where to seek advice, testing and screening; and share and report suspected cases.
NCSA manager Betty Hunte made a plea to the QEH’s management to again work together and undertake another emergency room survey, as the last one was in 2004.
In addition, she cautioned the assembled medical professionals to guard against substance abuse.
“As members of the medical fraternity, you also have a responsibility to address substance abuse within your own profession. High levels of stress, burnout and access to medications may place health care workers at increased risk.
“Creating supportive environments that encourage early intervention and confidential treatment is vital for maintaining the well-being of our colleagues, protecting patient safety and maintaining a sense of well-being for your colleagues,” she said.
Hunte also called for the strengthening of the commitment to provide early detection and intervention through routine screening, especially at the Accident & Emergency Department. She said it was necessary to quantify whether drugs were involved in situations like accidents, domestic violence and other emergencies.
“Make evidence-based treatment accessible to all who need it. Advocate for parity across the system, so it means using our voice to demand equal funding, equal resources, things like good mental health and addressing addiction services.
“We at the NCSA continue to engage through public education and prevention programmes targeting at-risk populations. So we are most willing to come and give some input there,” she said.
(CA)
The post New drugs concern for doctors appeared first on nationnews.com.