DRUGGED PATIENTS PLAGUE ERS

The David Thompson Health Region is searching for ways to deal with a
marked increase in the number of drug-intoxicated patients coming into
the region's emergency rooms and causing trouble for staff.

The health authority has formed a four-physician working committee to
look for solutions.

"Crystal methamphetamine is the main offender, but it's not the only
one," said Dr. Dave Dawson, vice-president of medicine for the region.
"What we are finding is people will be under an acute influence of one
of these drugs, and one of the characteristics is they are very hyper.
Their level of excitement and agitation makes them very hard for
anyone to deal with.

"It may take a large number of people to restrain them. They are
potentially a risk to themselves and other people."

Problems have occurred in large and small hospitals in the region, he
said.

While there haven't yet been any major incidents in regional emergency
rooms, the danger is increasing, he said.

"What we want to do is be proactive so we can avoid that very thing,"
he said. "As crystal meth is more common, it's a problem that is being
encountered more frequently."

The physicians on the committee will including two from emergency
rooms and the regional medical director of psychiatry and mental health.