Source: the-flack.com
It had been quite busy oncall day. I had an ill dengue patient and was reviewing him when my registrar broke the news of impending influx of drug overdose admissions. My colleagues who were oncall the day before passed over the cases. He even told us that a few did not survive.
Scary stuff – definitely. No – I am not going to be discussing the cases due to doctor-patient confidentiality. But that night, while handling all the cases, hundreds of thoughts ran through my head. I wondered whether those youngsters knew what were they doing. Were they aware of the danger? Is there any way these type of tragedies can be prevented?
I have seen what drugs can do to you and it is not a pretty sight. One would argue that if it is taken responsibly, you can get high on drugs safely. But my question is- do most people who use drugs and drink alcohol know how to do it sensibly?
Of course, if I was asked, the best way to party without dying is obviously to abstain from all forms of drugs, cigarettes and alcohol. Sorry for being a party pooper but that is the truth. As a mother myself, I do not excuse, encourage or condone drug use and I do believe abstinence is the safest choice. To me, you can enjoy music in all forms without needing alcohol and drugs to ‘enhance’ the experience.
I am not going to bore you with the long list of what drugs and alcohol can do to your body. You can read it all yourself online. You might also hear or have people tell you that all the effects are nothing compared to the good feelings drugs and alcohol can give you. They might tell you to experiment with it and see if you like it yourself. They will tell you partying with booze and Ecstasy can give you the best time of your life. You only live once so why not have a try?
What they don’t tell you – alcohol and drugs aren’t always fun. Drugs like MDMA can give you a heavenly happy high (as it increases your serotonin which is the happy hormones in the brain). But as the effects wear off – the crash you feel the day after can make you feel so depressed that you feel like you are in living hell.
Drunk driving can kill not only you but also people around you. Or may cause you to crash your beloved car into a tree. Alcohol and other psychoactive substances can impair your judgement and reduce your inhibitions, increasing the risk of you engaging in risky sexual behavior (either with strangers, or people you know but who you are not aware of previous sexual history).
But if you still decide to take drugs, here are several harm reduction measures that you can use to keep you breathing and returned safely back home:
- Do not mix drugs (especially amphetamine-type substances) with alcohol.
- If you decide to experiment with drugs – please read up on it – what does it do, health effects, likelihood of dependence/overdose and how to stay safe while taking it. Websites like http://www.drugaware.com.au or www.drugfoundation.co.nz have comprehensive but easy to access information on different types of drugs.
- If you decide to drink alcohol – drink smart. Don’t do it alone or with strangers. Go out in groups of people that you like and trust. Have someone you trust to be always with you. He or she should know your limits and be able to look out for you. Be aware of how much alcohol you are taking and stop when you feel that you are getting tipsy.
- Always have a backup plan. If you are planning to use alcohol or drugs – please do not drive! Have someone sober to drive you home or accompany you on a taxi ride home. Another alternative – call someone to pick you up. Errr… Riding a taxi while drunk alone is NOT SAFE.
- Safety first – always tell your guardians where are you going and who are you hanging out with. If you can’t tell your guardians where and who you are hanging out with – it is the first sign that whatever you are doing is not safe. Why is it important? You would never know what can happen to you at any time of day. By having your guardians aware of your whereabouts – you have someone who knows how to bail you out in case you ended up in trouble – like getting drunk, lost on the streets, got mugged, involved with a fight, caught in police raid etc.
- Do not take drugs, food or drinks from strangers especially if you don’t know what is EXACTLY inside it. Do not leave your drinks unattended. Be aware of your surroundings. Watch how people behave and react while taking the drugs or drinks.
- Remember your limits. Some people have higher threshold to certain drugs thus the same dose that give a safe high for person A can be lethal for person B. So one person may tell you that he can take 6 pills at one go – but you might go into seizures with just two pills. If you’ve had a long period of abstinence, your tolerance level will have changed.
- Some drugs can get contaminated or mixed with other stimulants. For example MDMA or ecstasy pills can get mixed with LSD, ephedrine, ketamine (horse tranquiliser) or some toxins including things like rat poison, ground glass or even insecticides. Get drug purity test kits so you can check on the purity of the substance – impure drugs can contain toxins that can be lethal to its users.
- Having drugs with you is illegal. If caught by police, you could be arrested, expelled from school or college, lose your driver’s licence or get killed by your parents.
- Stay hydrated. Instead of taking alcohol or soft drinks (that usually contains caffeine), get plain water. If you are taking drugs, keep a bottle of water close to you at all times.
- Look out for other people. If you see somebody – a friend or even a stranger – looking unwell, ask for help as fast as you can. If you see someone having seizure or collapse on the dance floor, offer help. If you know how, you can administer first aid while awaiting medical help.
By the way, if you do not know how to administer basic first aid and life support, you can learn. It is a valuable skill to have and may save you or a loved one. You can read more on first aid and basic life support here https://www.mmgazette.com/first-aid-basic-life-support-dr-khoo-yoong-khean/
Sorry if I sound preachy but I just feel like I need to share all these thoughts. It is no fun intubating a young person in the throes of a seizure. Try telling a young girl’s parents that their daughter’s heart has just stopped due to overdose and she is not responding to cardiac resuscitation efforts. No doctor likes to be in that position.
I just hope by writing this perhaps some youngster would read it and learn to take precautions. Then perhaps we might avoid another tragic, preventable drug-related death.
So go ahead party on but remember to party safe. So we do not have to see you in the emergency room sick or dying.
Read more on Safety First: A Reality-Based Approach
http://www.drugpolicy.org/sites/default/files/Safety_First_2012_Final.pdf
Dr. Nur Hidayati is in training to be an internal medicine specialist and a permanent columnist for the Malaysian Medical Gazette.
This is the personal opinion of the writer and does not necessarily represent the views of The Malaysian Medical Gazette.
[This article belongs to The Malaysian Medical Gazette. Any republication (online or offline) without written permission from The Malaysian Medical Gazette is prohibited.]