signs and symptoms
what are signs of a drug overdose?
mania and hysteria to coma and death, changes in blood pressure and heartbeat, sweating, vomiting and liver failure
what is a drug overdose?
An overdose occurs when someone uses an excessive amount of a substance
What is a drug?
Any substance, other than food, intended to affect body functions
what legal substances are most often abused or misused?
alcohol, nicotine, over the counter medications
What are specific signs and symptoms of hallucinogenic abuse?
sudden mood changes, flushed face, anxious, frightened and claim to hear or see something not present
What is one way that you can reverse the effects of opioid drugs that is commonly used by EMS personnel?
naloxone or narcan
what is substance abuse?
substance abuse is the deliberate, persistent and excessive use of a substance without regard to health concerns or accepted medical practices
what is another term for hallucinogens
psychedelic
What are specific signs and symptoms of depressant abuse?
drowsiness, confusion, slurred speech, slow heart and breathing rates and poor coordination
what do you need to look out for after administering a drug?
watch for signs and symptoms of the original problem and improvement or deterioration in the patients condition
How is dosage for a patient calculated?
the patient's age, weight, gender and reason for taking the drug
what was aspirin originally used for?
what is a synergistic effect?
a heightened or exaggerated effect may be produced when two or more substances are used at the same time
What does the administrator need to be aware of after giving naloxone or narcan ?
after giving narcan the person goes into an immediate withdrawal from the drugs and can become irritable and sometimes violent
a name is given based on its chemical properties and then usually given a generic shorter version
what is a drug profile?
a description of what it does, what it's used for and any side effects of taking it