@article{ref1,
title="Bath salts in the emergency department: a survey of emergency clinicians' experience with bath salts-intoxicated patients",
journal="Journal of addiction medicine",
year="2014",
author="Vazirian, Mohsen and Jerry, Jason M. and James, Jeffrey and Dale, Roman M.",
volume="9",
number="2",
pages="94-98",
abstract="OBJECTIVE:: Several novel synthetic amphetamines have been marketed worldwide as &quot;bath salts.&quot; The use of bath salts is associated with severe medical consequences resulting in a US federal ban over the last 3 years on the more common substances found in this group. Bath salts intoxication has a relatively nonspecific presentation, and urine toxicology confirmation in emergency departments (EDs) is impractical because the turnaround time is several days. Emergency clinicians must therefore rely heavily on patients' self-reports to verify the diagnosis. We performed an online survey of emergency clinicians to determine their degree of exposure to bath salts-intoxicated patients, the clinically relevant features of such patients, and the typical emergency management. <br><br>METHODS:: We invited 124 physicians and physician assistants in 7 Cleveland Clinic EDs to participate in an online survey. <br><br>RESULTS:: From a total of 43 of the 124 respondents, 77% did not specifically ask patients about bath salts use. Sixty percent had encountered a bath salts-intoxicated individual. Most respondents reported that the majority of patients were male, were between 19 and 29 years old, and used other drugs in addition to bath salts. Agitation, aggression/violence, and hallucinations were reported to be the most common presentations, and intravenous/intramuscular tranquilization was reported as the most often used management. Most patients were discharged home from the ED. <br><br>CONCLUSIONS:: Despite the lack of toxicology screening in EDs, about two thirds of the surveyed emergency clinicians encountered bath salts-intoxicated individuals. Our study demonstrates the need for increased screening of bath salts intoxication in EDs, especially in agitated patients.<p /> <p>Language: en</p>",
language="en",
issn="1932-0620",
doi="10.1097/ADM.0000000000000094",
url="http://dx.doi.org/10.1097/ADM.0000000000000094"
}