Toxicology Review

Substance abuse is most accurately defined as knowingly misusing a substance to produce a desired effect.

Signs and symptoms of a sympathomimetic overdose include sedation, hypotension, and slurred speech.

Most poisonings occur via the injection route.

Injection poisonings are easily diluted or removed because they absorb slowly.

Activated Charcoal is contraindicated for patients that have ingested acids or bases.

Marijuana is the most commonly abused drug in the US.

Alcohol impairs the body's ability to clot.

Being too intoxicated should be the highest suspicion if a female was sexually assaulted but has no memory of the event.

Naloxone (Narcan) is the treatment for a suspected opioid overdose.

A patient that presents with significant bradypnea, bradycardia, and pinpoint pupils has most likely overdosed on Valium.

Atropine is used to treat exposures to nerve gasses or organophosphates.

A patient who presents with tachypnea, nausea and vomiting, ringing in the ears, and a high fever should be suspected of ingesting aspirin.

You know the treatment for toxicological emergencies