Professional Allied Staff Courses
Friday, October 16, 2009
8:00AM - 11:00AM
PAS
Professional Allied Staff Symposium: Street Drugs in the Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery Office
Steve Miriani
Detective
Vacaville, CA
Sue Carlisle, PhD, MD
University of California at San Francisco School of Medicine
San Francisco, CA
Synopsis
Drug abusers are found throughout society, and it is frequently very difficult to identify them. During this presentation, attendees will be taken into the underworld of the drug addict to learn what illegal drugs look like, how they're ingested, "street lingo" and other tools that make identification easier. Drug abuse is extremely common in our society and is associated with many traumatic injuries and long-term medical disabilities. Many drugs of abuse also interact with anesthetic medications commonly used for both major and minor surgical procedures. The use of herbal agents is also quite common, and users and clinicians are frequently unaware of the side-effects and drug interactions of these agents. The physiological and psychological effects of these substances need to be considered when planning a procedure. It is important to recognize and treat the problems associated with herbal remedies, as well as those associated with drugs of abuse.
Learning Objectives
At the conclusion of this presentation, participants should be able to:
- Recognize signs of potential drug abuse in patients and colleagues;
- Employ appropriate strategies to treat and cope with identified drug users;
- Understand possible liability exposure if patients are not identified as drug users prior to undergoing medical procedures and/or being prescribed medications;
- Understand the interactions of "street" drugs and common anesthetics; and
- Understand the side-effects of commonly used herbal agents.