Growing concern over combined drug use

Lewisporte - Combination or multiple drug use is a potential recipe for disaster.

Dr. Brenda Penney, a Lewisporte family physician, attended a drug information session for parents earlier this month to present her concerns when it comes to this topic.

Dr. Penney noted how toxic and medical implications can occur when more than one type of drug or substance is taken. She said some of the commonly used drugs doctors see used in combination is alcohol, marihuana, ecstasy, cocaine, methadone, prescription drugs and over the counter medications.

She explained that the problem for physicians like her is that when they are presented with a patient who may have taken a combination of drugs (and is unconscious or incoherent), the doctor can't treat them if they don't know what they have taken.

"I don't treat what I don't know," said Dr. Penney. "It takes years to learn about all the different drug interactions."

It was also explained how some people who take drugs or combination drugs have diagnosed or undiagnosed medical conditions such as cardiac issues, blood pressure, thyroid, diabetes or neurological concerns that can further complicate the treatment process in an emergency situation.

You don't have to take massive amounts of these substances to suffer the consequences.

Dr. Penney referred to a case in the courts where a 16-year-old girl was at a party and she took an ecstasy pill with some beer. She wasn't feeling the effects right away so she took another pill. Around 4 a.m. the girl had a seizure. No one called 911. Around 6 a.m. she was cold to the touch and her lips had turned blue. People at the party put her in tub of warm water and rigor mortis was or had set in. The partygoers wrapped the girl in a comforter and brought her to the hospital where she was pronounced dead. Dr. Penney said doctors had found symptoms of an ecstasy overdose.

"She may also have been an undiagnosed diabetic, who if treated may not have died," she said.

Two teenagers are facing an array of charges that include controlled substance homicide and not providing necessities of life.

Dr. Penney has seen cases of combination drug use and her concern is real.

"We're just lucky this (deaths) hasn't happened here yet as a result," she cautioned. "But the medical examiner in St. John's has seen more deaths from combination drug use."

Pharm Party

You may not have heard the term yet, but "Pharm Party" is a concern that Dr. Penney wanted to address with parents before it becomes a problem.

In the information provided to parents, a Pharm Party is not a keg party out on a farm. Pharm is short for pharmaceuticals. The term refers to a party "where prescription drugs are readily available in a potentially deadly mixture". Tranquilizers, powerful pain killers, mind altering psychotropic drugs and other medications become a "trail mix" of sorts, served up in large bowls or baggies to hand out to party guests. Also in the information provided, it is stated that many kids believe prescription drugs to be less dangerous because a doctor prescribes them.

Dr. Penney said while she hasn't heard too much about Pharm Parties taking place locally, she has heard of them occurring in other places in Canada and even in St. John's and Corner Brook areas.

"If we are aware that this is out there, we have to watch for certain things," she said.

One of the things parents can watch for and protect is their own prescription drugs by keeping them in a safe place (not the medicine cabinet) and keeping track of them. Even something as simple as Gravol, acetaminophen with codeine and cough syrup - keep tabs on it.

Parents were also encouraged to talk to their kids about single and combined drug use and the dangers that exist.