Intoxication & Withdrawal. Addiction 101: A Guide to Addiction Treatment – Preview

In 2008 a wildfire swept through Butte County, California. The fire burned for a month and over 10000 residents fled their homes. In Butte County, as in all communities, drug and alcohol problems are often hidden. These problems became obvious during the fire and in its immediate aftermath. First responders had to cope with methamphetamine users, alcoholics, and people struggling with addictions. Once people got to shelters they risked going into withdrawal, both from illicit drugs and also from prescription medications. These needs placed additional burdens on scarce resources. After the crisis abated, Butte County Public Health responded by inviting Dr. Alex Stalcup to create this video for police, firefighters, paramedics, nurses, and physicians. Dr. Stalcup is an addiction medicine specialist who has over 20 years of experience treating addicted patients, conducting research, and training professionals, including physicians and judges, about the effects of drugs of abuse. Dr. Stalcup integrates his experience helping patients recover from addiction with his broad knowledge of the scientific literature to create a presentation that is both authoritative and accessible. His passion for improving treatment of people suffering from addiction is evident throughout. Topics covered in this training include: • assessment and management of intoxication • assessment and treatment of withdrawal • mental health symptoms in drug users • considerations for first responders …