Comments on: Heroin abscess http://gruntdoc.com/2005/07/heroin-abscess.html Ramblings of an Emergency Physician in Texas Sat, 31 Jul 2010 12:01:12 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.0 By: Jaime http://gruntdoc.com/2005/07/heroin-abscess.html/comment-page-1#comment-2437 Jaime Mon, 01 Aug 2005 20:18:10 +0000 http://gruntdoc.com/2005/07/heroin-abscess.html#comment-2437 There are a couple of clean needle programs in cities in the UK.. and hospitals or surgeries/clinics will always take dirty ones and dispose of them safely. I believe that while they have little effect on rates of drug use (inasmuch as that data's available) they're pretty good at preventing things like that abcess. I mean, if there's the opportunity of clean needles, people tend to take it. There are a couple of clean needle programs in cities in the UK.. and hospitals or surgeries/clinics will always take dirty ones and dispose of them safely. I believe that while they have little effect on rates of drug use (inasmuch as that data’s available) they’re pretty good at preventing things like that abcess. I mean, if there’s the opportunity of clean needles, people tend to take it.

]]> By: GruntDoc http://gruntdoc.com/2005/07/heroin-abscess.html/comment-page-1#comment-2436 GruntDoc Fri, 29 Jul 2005 05:11:21 +0000 http://gruntdoc.com/2005/07/heroin-abscess.html#comment-2436 Clean needle programs have been tried in many places, but I don't know their results. I suspect the resulting data could be parsed any way the writer desired, but I'd be interested in hearing success stories. Clean needle programs have been tried in many places, but I don’t know their results. I suspect the resulting data could be parsed any way the writer desired, but I’d be interested in hearing success stories.

]]> By: Stan Wells http://gruntdoc.com/2005/07/heroin-abscess.html/comment-page-1#comment-2435 Stan Wells Wed, 27 Jul 2005 16:16:18 +0000 http://gruntdoc.com/2005/07/heroin-abscess.html#comment-2435 My practice is in ER and trauma radiology. The suffering these people have is incredible. While I am opposed to substance abuse I think it is time we consider a program that provides clean equipment and substances (which could be controlled and taxed) to relieve some of this type of suffering. My practice is in ER and trauma radiology. The suffering these people have is incredible. While I am opposed to substance abuse I think it is time we consider a program that provides clean equipment and substances (which could be controlled and taxed) to relieve some of this type of suffering.

]]> By: TheNewGuy http://gruntdoc.com/2005/07/heroin-abscess.html/comment-page-1#comment-2434 TheNewGuy Tue, 26 Jul 2005 16:15:08 +0000 http://gruntdoc.com/2005/07/heroin-abscess.html#comment-2434 Yep... the SQ air was pretty obvious on that one. My favorites are the ones that are large enough to lose a large pair of Kelley clamps... that and the anaerobes... The gram negatives and anaerobes come from addicts who reuse needles. When reusing their needles, they frequently lick (yes, with their tongue) the needle tip to make sure it's still usable (ie. not barbed). Terrible disease, addiction. Yep… the SQ air was pretty obvious on that one.

My favorites are the ones that are large enough to lose a large pair of Kelley clamps… that and the anaerobes…

The gram negatives and anaerobes come from addicts who reuse needles. When reusing their needles, they frequently lick (yes, with their tongue) the needle tip to make sure it’s still usable (ie. not barbed).

Terrible disease, addiction.

]]> By: Judy http://gruntdoc.com/2005/07/heroin-abscess.html/comment-page-1#comment-2433 Judy Mon, 25 Jul 2005 11:31:28 +0000 http://gruntdoc.com/2005/07/heroin-abscess.html#comment-2433 I don't read xrays for a living, but I've seen a lot of them -- never one that looked like that. I was hoping I was wrong about what that dark area was. It must take a lot of narcotics to control the pain in someone who's clearly used to whopping doses just to keep from withdrawing. One more reason I don't understand why people think NICU is in any way exceptional. Our patients don't do this stuff. Not for 18 years or so after we discharge them, anyway. I don’t read xrays for a living, but I’ve seen a lot of them — never one that looked like that. I was hoping I was wrong about what that dark area was. It must take a lot of narcotics to control the pain in someone who’s clearly used to whopping doses just to keep from withdrawing. One more reason I don’t understand why people think NICU is in any way exceptional. Our patients don’t do this stuff. Not for 18 years or so after we discharge them, anyway.

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