Pre-hospital identification and post-recovery challenges of intoxication with synthetic cannabinoid containing legal high products such as 'Exodus Damnation'.
This short report describes the case of a young adult male who had smoked a synthetic cannabinoid legal high product called 'Exodus Damnation'. The patient's presentation was atypical from that described in the literature, with hypotension and hypoxaemia. Of note was the rapid recovery after pre-hospital intervention with high-flow oxygen therapy and intravenous fluids. The patient refused on-going care, despite repeated advice to attend the Emergency Department. The distinct lack of specialist support and referral to drug treatment for this patient population, with whom ambulance services are coming into contact with increasing frequency, is reported. For those patients with the capacity to refuse on-going care, ambulance services may be in an opportune position to actively promote referral to support services for these vulnerable individuals.
Paramedic Clinical Research Specialist, Scottish Ambulance Service, NMAHP Research Unit, University of Stirling, UK david.fitzpatrick@nhs.net.
David
D
Fitzpatrick
National Head of Ambulance Control Services, Scottish Ambulance Service, UK.
Patrick
P
O'Meara
Scientific Analyst, European Monitoring Centre for Drugs and Drug Addiction, Portugal.
Andrew
A
Cunningham
D000293:Adolescent; D002186:Cannabinoids / Q000009:adverse effects*; D015198:Designer Drugs; D004632:Emergency Medical Services / Q000379:methods; D005440:Fluid Therapy; D006301:Health Services Needs and Demand; D006801:Humans; D007022:Hypotension / Q000139:chemically induced; D000860:Hypoxia / Q000139:chemically induced; D013287:Illicit Drugs / Q000009:adverse effects*; D008297:Male; D010102:Oxygen Inhalation Therapy; D012017:Referral and Consultation; D019966:Substance-Related Disorders / Q000628:therapy*; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D062666:Vascular Access Devices
D002186:Cannabinoids; D015198:Designer Drugs; D013287:Illicit Drugs
5F-AKB48 and 5F-PB22; Exodus Damnation; Legal high; new psychoactive substances; synthetic cannabinoid