title: Occupational hazard: treating cocaine body packers in Caribbean countries.
abstract: Body packing is a common method of smuggling cocaine where individuals ingest several drug-filled parcels for transport. When identified by the authorities, body packers are usually taken to hospital for evaluation. There are several points during management of these patients when the health care team may be placed at risk. We explore the hazards encountered during the management of these patients in developing Caribbean nations.
authors.affiliation: Department of Basic Medical Sciences, University of the West Indies, Mona, Kingston 7, Jamaica. socawich@hotmail.com
authors.forename: Shamir O
authors.initials: SO
authors.lastname: Cawich
authors.forename: Eric W
authors.initials: EW
authors.lastname: Williams
authors.forename: Necia R
authors.initials: NR
authors.lastname: Evans
authors.forename: Peter
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Johnson
mesh_terms: D017691:Caribbean Region; D003042:Cocaine / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000633:toxicity; D004349:Drug Packaging; D006291:Health Policy; D006801:Humans; D007415:Intestinal Obstruction / Q000628:therapy; D010564:Personnel, Hospital / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence; D019966:Substance-Related Disorders / Q000517:prevention & control* / Q000628:therapy
chemical_list: D003042:Cocaine