This summer, many are out to enjoy concerts, nightclubs and festivals. However, the party has a downside. The number of patients arriving at the emergency center due to poisoning or overdose as a result of drugs is increasing. This summer, the hospital in Vestfold is experiencing a greater influx of young and young adults who come to the hospital as a result of consuming both legal and illegal drugs. The hospital writes in a press release on Wednesday. – Has its limitations – It is important for us to say that we are here for everyone who needs us. We are well equipped to help, but medical science has its limitations when it comes to dealing with many of the drugs we see in circulation now, says Vidar Ruddox. He is acting head of department at the emergency center. Vidar Ruddox, acting head of department at the emergency center. Photo: Vestfold Hospital In the last three weeks, there were over 100 inquiries to 113 related to a rust condition in the hospital’s coverage area. Several of these were in need of acute hospitalization, the hospital states. – Only last night there were five ambulance assignments where intoxication was involved, says Torbjørn Lia, department manager at the ambulance service. There is no antidote to everything Ruddox and Lia encourage everyone to think about and be critical of what they put into it. – Many of the drugs have an unpredictable effect and taking these can almost be compared to Russian roulette. It can go well one time, but another time the same amount of the drug can paralyze breathing or cause heavy unconsciousness, says Ruddox. The emergency center and ambulance service also experience that many do not know what they have taken. – There is no antidote to all drugs and we often end up in a situation where we have to support treatment. That is, to help the lungs get oxygen in the body and the heart to pump blood. This is associated with extremely high risk for the individual patient, and we are in such situations almost daily, he continues. There is a large team that is drummed together when a patient arrives at the emergency center due to poisoning or overdose. The treatment requires expertise from several disciplines, and health personnel in the medical aid team that is called in come from various departments at the hospital. – We hope everyone has a nice summer and want people to be out and have fun, but will also encourage everyone to be careful, says Ruddox.
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The hospital sounds the alarm about intoxication among young people – news Vestfold and Telemark – Local news, TV and radio
