Those suspected of concealing illicit drugs often present near ports and borders however they can present to any ED or be brought in by the police.
Body Packers – Swallow large quantities of well packaged drugs to smuggle them into countries or institutions. These are often well manufactured with a low risk of rupture but the potential for serious toxicity if rupture occurs.
Body Stuffers – Swallow small quantities of poorly packaged illicit substances often at the point of arrest to conceal them. These have a much high risk of package rupture but involve smaller quantities of substances.
Investigations
Authorisation for an intimate search or radiological investigation must come from an inspector or higher with written consent from the patient.
Intimate searches must be carried out by a police surgeon but require immediately available resuscitation facilities therefore may be conducted in the ED. ED physicians should not handle the drugs at any time.
AXR or low dose CT scanning can be used to detect concealed packages in Body Packers.
General Management
Try to obtain a history of what and how much has been concealed
Amphetamines : – Nausea, Vomiting, Dilated Pupils, Tachycardia, Hypertensions, Sweating, Convulsions and the development of non-cardiogenic pulmonary oedema
ECG
Body Stuffers should be observed for signs of toxicity for a minimum 6 hours, consider activated Charcoal
Body Packers with positive imaging who are asymptomatic can be discharged back to police custody for monitoring. Bowel preparation such as Cleanprep or movicol can be used.
Toxidromes should be treated as per toxbase guidelines Toxbase
Body Packers with signs of cocaine or amphetamine toxicity or signs of obstruction/ileus require urgent surgical intervention.
Body packers with signs of Heroin toxicity should be treated with Naloxone infusion as per toxbase guidelines
Retain clothing and wipes, double bagged as evidence/disposal
Return to ED
If you haven’t seen the Initial Operational Response (IOR) training video please watch it.
The patient can then be thoroughly assesses, to identify the substance involved (this may involve witnesses, police info and symptomatology), and treated appropriately.
Police should be informed of the incident for several reasons: 1. Public safety, 2. To collect the evidence and possible find out what it was for you. (if this is not a criminal act Public health England can advise on return/disposal of personal effects)
Inform Manager On-Call of incident as it may disrupt the functioning of ED and can provide support.
Patient symptom-free and substance unknown
In our recent case Public Health England advised
4-6hr observation
Discharge with advice:
“if developing symptoms to return to the ED via ambulance but the patient must be aware that they must inform 999 of the original exposure.”
Scombroid poisoning (AKA – Histamine fish poisoning) is apparently more common than we think and accounts for 40% of seafood related illness in the USA according to the CDC. But Scombriod poisoning is missed as its put down to allergy.Read more
Ending up in the ED as a result of alcohol and or substance use is NOT normal behaviour
Children who use alcohol or other substances are hugely vulnerable to sexual exploitation and other forms of abuse.
The use of alcohol or drugs can be encouraged as part of the grooming process, or as a means of coping with a difficult situation for the young person.
It is also likely that friends and close acquaintances of the young person are equally vulnerable.