Assessment of alcohol and other drug use behaviors in health professions students.

Alcohol and other drug (AOD) use behaviors of health professions students (HPS) were assessed by surveying both university-based HPS and other nursing programs in a Midwestern state in 1999. Response was 2,646 (56.4%) of surveyed students. Family history of alcohol-related and drug-related problems were reported by 39.8% and 13.9%, respectively, with 42.6% of respondents reporting one or both. Among nursing respondents, 48.1%, 19.2% and 51.1%, respectively, reported family problems with alcohol, drugs, or one or both. Past-year alcohol use was comparable to undergraduate college students (UCS) nationally (83%); heavy drinking, tobacco and recreational drug use by HPS were lower. Past year drug use was highest among medical students. Marijuana was the predominant illicit drug; medical students and males most often reported use. Health professions educational systems should proactively address student AOD prevention, education and assistance needs.     

Chemical warfare agents

The first 150 words of the full text of this article appear below. Key points

• Chemical personal protective equipment must be wornwhen in contact with contaminated casualties.
• Recognizing theclinical features of chemical warfare agent poisoning allowssupportive treatment and appropriate antidotes to be promptlyadministered.
• The mnemonic DUMBELS describes the muscarinicfeatures of the nerve agent poisoning toxidrome.
• There areeffective antidotes for poisoning with nerve agents, blood agents(metabolic poisons), botulinum toxin and kolokol-1.
• There areno specific antidotes for blistering agents (vesicants) andchoking agents.

  Chemical warfare (CW) agents are chemical substances that havea direct toxic effect on plants, animals and humans. Classifiedaccording to their physiological effects, agents effective againsthumans include nerve agents, blistering agents (vesicants),blood agents, choking agents and toxins. Incapacitating, vomiting,psychoactive and riot control agents (e.g. CS gas) also exist.¹ All personnel in contact with contaminated casualties must wearthe appropriate level of chemical personal protective equipment(CPPE) until adequate decontamination is . . . [Full Text of this Article]