Amfetamine overdose

Drug and alcohol social services should be employed to monitor and advise the patient. In some cases this may be facilitated after treatment for acute toxicity, by direct transfer of the patient to an inpatient rehabilitation unit immediately on hospital discharge. A quick outpatient intervention developed by the US Public Health Service is useful and may be implemented on follow-up visits with patients who have been treated for overdose or misuse of amfetamines.[91]Whitlock EP, Orleans CT, Pender N, et al. Evaluating primary care behavioral counseling interventions: an evidence-based approach. Am J Prev Med. 2002 May;22(4):267-84. http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/11988383?tool=bestpractice.com The intervention is designed to take 5 to 15 minutes. The 5 A's of intervention are:

• ASK about current drug use

• ADVISE to quit and provide information on the benefits

• ASSESS the willingness to quit

• ASSIST with finding resources and making a plan to quit

• ARRANGE for follow-up visits to help the patient through and quit for good.