"Parachuting" meth: a novel delivery method for methamphetamine and delayed-onset toxicity from "body stuffing".
BACKGROUND
Methamphetamine is an illicit stimulant that is typically smoked, insufflated, or injected. We report an unusual method of ingesting methamphetamine called "parachuting" and its implications for the treatment of "body stuffers."


METHODS
A 25-year-old man wrapped methamphetamine into a plastic baggie and ingested it in an attempt to "parachute." He presented to an Emergency Department 10 hours after his ingestion because he realized that he forgot to puncture the baggie. He had no complaints and had a transient tachycardia. He was treated with activated charcoal and whole bowel irrigation, observed for 24 hours, and discharged. He returned 42 hours after his ingestion with tachycardia (220 bpm), agitation, hypertension (179/74 mmHg), and rhabdomyolysis (CPK 7771 U/L), requiring mechanical ventilation and a midazolam drip (10 mg/hr).


CONCLUSIONS
"Parachuting" is a novel method of ingesting methamphetamine. We report a case of a single-packet "body stuffer" with severe symptom onset that was delayed over 36 hours. Treatment protocols for "body stuffers" using this technique may require more prolonged observation and/or imaging studies to determine the absence of gastrointestinal packets.
Hendrickson
Robert G
RG
Center for Policy and Research in Emergency Medicine, Department of Emergency Medicine, Oregon Health and Science University, Portland 97239, and Eugene Emergency Physicians at Sacred Heart Hospital, Eugene, Oregon, USA. hendriro@ohsu.edu
Horowitz
B Zane
BZ
Norton
Robert L
RL
Notenboom
Hans
H
D000284:Administration, Oral; D000328:Adult; D000697:Central Nervous System Stimulants / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000506:poisoning; D062787:Drug Overdose; D006801:Humans; D013287:Illicit Drugs; D008297:Male; D008694:Methamphetamine / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000506:poisoning*; D013566:Sympathomimetics / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000506:poisoning
D000697:Central Nervous System Stimulants; D013287:Illicit Drugs; D013566:Sympathomimetics; D008694:Methamphetamine