TENNESSEE POISON CENTER
UPDATE
Winter 2011 —- Volume 2, Issue 4 —- www.tnpoisoncenter.org
Synthetic Drugs – Dangerous and Deadly
In this issue:
 Synthetic Drugs
 Senior Medicine
Safety
 Holiday Cooking
 Study Drugs
Links
Link to Tennessee Poison
Center
Serving all 95 Tennessee counties
www.tnpoisoncenter.org
American Association of
Poison Control Centers
www.aapcc.org
UT Extension
https://utextension.tennessee.edu
This project is funded under an
agreement with the state of
Tennessee.
One type is marketed as ―synthetic
marijuana.‖ The other is advertised as
―fake cocaine‖ or ―fake meth.‖ Both are
marketed as legal equivalents to illegal
drugs. But both cause alarming side
effects that are generating a slew of calls
to poison centers and spurring concern
among doctors across the U.S.
America’s 57 poison centers first
received calls about ―synthetic
marijuana‖ in late 2009. During 2010,
they received 2,915 calls about these new
products. And from January 1 to
September 30 this year, they received
5,083 calls. The synthetic marijuana
products sell for between $30 and $40
per 3-gram bag, in packages labeled as
incense or potpourri and marketed under
brand names like ―Spice,‖ ―K2,‖
―Genie,‖ ―Yucatan Fire,‖ ―Sence,‖
―Smoke,‖ ―Skunk‖ and ―Zohai.‖
Photo courtesy Bangor Police Department
―Vanilla Sky,‖ ―Ivory Wave,‖ ―White
Lightning,‖ ―Scarface‖ and ―Hurricane
Charlie.‖ They produce increased heart
rate, increased blood pressure, agitation,
hallucinations, extreme paranoia and
delusions. Poison centers took 303 calls
In December 2010, the U.S. Drug
about the products in 2010; between
Enforcement Agency – concerned about January 1 and Sept. 30, 2011, the number
reports of people experiencing vomiting, of calls had jumped to 5,226.
hallucinations, racing heartbeat and
elevated blood pressure – moved to make Many states have responded to the rising
the substances illegal. More than a dozen use of bath salts by passing laws to make
states had already taken this action.
them illegal, and in September 2011, the
U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration
Late last year, poison centers began to
issued a ban of the chemicals used to
receive calls about products marketed as make these dangerous drugs.
―bath salts‖ sold both on the Internet as
well as in gas stations and head shops.
The American Association of Poison
Packaging is usually a plastic bag filled Control Centers wants you to be aware of
with a white granular powder. The
the dangers of these products. Here are a
products are known as ―Red Dove,‖
―Blue Silk,‖ ―Zoom,‖ ―Bloom,‖ ―Cloud
9,‖ ―Ocean Snow,‖ ―Lunar Wave,‖
(Continued on Page 5)
Seniors Are at Risk for Poisoning Too!
While many senior adults are not sure why they
list or medicine journal. This helps to ensure the
should be concerned about poison centers and
medicine has been taken also helps prevent extra
poison prevention, the average amount of medicine
doses from being taken accidentally.
– prescription, over-the-counter, vitamin and herbal  Dispose of all medicines that are no longer
– consumed by seniors continues to increase. At the needed, such as expired medicines and
same time, calls to America’s 57 poison centers
prescriptions that have been discontinued. This
about seniors also have steadily increased for the
helps to prevent senior adults from taking the
past few years, and many of these calls concern
wrong medicine or drugs interacting with each
medicines.
other. Many communities have collection events
or drop boxes for safe disposal of medicines, so
These tips from the American Association of Poison
Control Centers can help keep senior adults
poison-safe:
 Keep an up-to-date list of all medicines a person
takes. These include prescriptions, over-thecounter products, vitamins and herbals.
 Share the list with all doctors and pharmacists to
check for drug interactions. Surprisingly, even
herbal supplements can interact with a
prescription drug. Be sure to always check with a
doctor before adding vitamins or herbal
supplements to daily prescription medicines.
 If possible, use the same pharmacy to fill all
ask your local pharmacist for suggestions.
prescriptions. This also helps with avoiding
 Never take someone else’s medicine. Even if it
negative drug interactions.
could be beneficial, it might interact with a
 Keep all medicines in their original containers to
person’s other medicines. Plus, taking other
avoid confusion with types of medicine and
people’s prescriptions is illegal!
dosage. This is especially important when
 Be very cautious when considering ordering
acetaminophen is an ingredient because taking
medicines over the Internet. It is often impossible
too much can cause liver damage. Many pain
to tell if they are coming from another country,
relievers and sleeping products include
and the ingredients may not be what are claimed.
acetaminophen and labels may not be clear as to
This especially applies to supplements that make
what they contain.
claims for ―miracle cures.‖ Ask family members
 Always read the label prior to taking any
or a pharmacist to investigate the site before
medicine, and never try to take it in the dark or
sending money or taking products obtained
without glasses to avoid mistaking medicines or
online.
taking an overdose.
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Keep Tennessee Poison Center’s toll-free number
 Follow all medicine dosage instructions to avoid
available for poison information and emergencies.
taking too much.
If a poisoning is suspected, call 1-800-222-1222.
 Develop a system for medicine tracking to help
show when it has been taken, such as a check-off
Cooking for Large Groups Is No Easy Task
The holiday season has finally arrived. Oftentimes,
the best part about the holidays is spending time
with family … and eating of course! However,
even for an experienced chef, cooking a feast for a
large group can be quite daunting.
The average home chef might consider cooking for
two, three or even six people a manageable or even
easy task. But during the holidays – when your
guest list can reach 15, 16 or even 20 people – it is
important that your guests leave with full bellies
and not food poisoning.
was eaten, symptoms may last from several hours
to two or three days. Food poisoning can be serious
for people in poor health, for the very young and
the elderly.
Practicing basic food safety preparation and storage
is the best way to protect against food poisoning.
Experts at the nation’s 57 poison centers offer the
following recommendations to prevent food
poisonings:
 Wash hands with soap and warm running water
for at least 15 to 20 seconds before preparing
any foods and especially after handling raw
meat, poultry, fish or eggs.
 Keep preparation and storage areas clean; this
includes countertops, stovetops and
refrigerators.
 Wash utensils between each use. Never reuse
utensils; this is a source of contamination.
 Do not defrost meat or poultry on the counter at
room temperature. Thaw it in the refrigerator or
microwave instead.
 Use a meat thermometer to confirm that meat,
pork and poultry are properly cooked; visit
www.foodsafety.gov for proper temperatures.
 Do not prepare food if you are sick or have any
type of nose or eye infection.
 Store raw food below cooked food in the
refrigerator so raw food cannot drip into cooked
food and contaminate it.
 Use separate cutting boards for meats, poultry
and fish.
And to ensure that the leftovers will be just as good
the next day, properly seal and store leftovers in the
refrigerator as soon as possible. Leaving perishable
foods, including meats and dairy products, out
longer than two hours significantly increases the
According to the American Association of Poison
risk of food poisoning. Throw food away if you are
Control Centers, food poisoning is generally a mild
unsure how long it has been sitting out.
illness that most commonly results from poor food
handling practices. Food poisoning usually occurs
Be sure to keep these tips in mind as you cook and
two to six hours after eating the contaminated food
entertain family and friends this holiday season.
and can include nausea, fever, vomiting, stomach
And if you have questions about food poisoning or
cramps and diarrhea. Depending on the exact type
any other poison exposure, call Tennessee Poison
of food poisoning, how your body reacts to the
Center at 1-800-222-1222.
toxin and the amount of contaminated food that
Stay Away From Study Drugs
College can be difficult. Peer pressure, tuition, professors, term papers, campus activities and the desire
for academic excellence can make life for a college
student quite overwhelming at times. And although the
college experience can bring
about growth, sometimes the
pursuit of excellence can harm
their health if students add
―study drugs‖ to the mix.
With final exams just around
the corner, the American
Association of Poison Control
Centers encourages parents to
talk to their children about the
dangers of popular study drugs
and the symptoms they may cause.
Study drugs are drugs that are abused as study aids.
Students often believe that study drugs enhance or
focus concentration and increase stamina when they
cram for tests or write lengthy papers.
undiagnosed or preexisting mental health
issues, these prescription drugs can make their
conditions worse. Chronic use also can lead to
addiction. It’s important for parents to remind their
children to take their ADHD
medicine correctly and never to
take someone else’s prescription
drugs.
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According to the medical
experts at America’s 57 poison
centers, the following symptoms
may indicate someone is abusing
study drugs. Call Tennessee
Poison Center at 1-800-222-1222
if someone experiences:
Anxiety, nervousness, jitters or agitation
Tremors
Increased heart rate
Elevated blood pressure
Insomnia
Loss of appetite
Upset stomach with nausea and vomiting
The use of study drugs is not new. For years, college
students have looked for ways to make studying
If you have questions about study drugs or any other
easier, more efficient and more manageable. The drugs
poison exposure, call Tennessee Poison Center at
of choice are stimulants (uppers) and include:
1-800-222-1222.
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Caffeine: Historically, this has been limited to
drinking multiple cups of coffee or tea to help
students through all-nighters. The dose is
increased considerably; however, by taking
caffeine pills or consuming multiple energy
drinks. Caffeine pills can contain up to 200 mg.
of caffeine in each pill, two to three times the
amount in a cup of coffee. Energy drinks also
contain a large amount of caffeine, and some
contain additional stimulants.
Prescription medicines: Some students use ADHD
medicine as a study drug. These medicines contain
the stimulants dextroamphetamine or
methylphenidate. For some people with
Tennessee Poison Center is vital for the health and
safety of Tennessee residents. We appreciate the
continued support and advocacy for our programs.
Donations may be mailed to:
Tennessee Poison Center
501 Oxford House, 1313 21st Avenue South
Nashville, TN 37232-4632
Administrative Office Phone: (615) 936-0760
Synthetic Drugs — Dangerous and Deadly (continued from Page 1)
few
few tips on what they are and the dangers surrounding them:
 Parents of teens should be on the lookout for such products in their children’s bedrooms and
backpacks. Be particularly skeptical of products labeled ―incense‖ or ―bath salts.‖
 Be aware of the signs and symptoms of drug use in loved ones: paranoia, changes in personality,
agitation and anxiety are among the symptoms reported by users of these substances.
 Talk with family members about the dangers of these products. Don’t be fooled by the ready
availability and legal status of new ―designer drugs.‖ These products are not a ―safe‖ or harmless
alternative to other illicit drugs. Many can cause hallucinations and agitation that poison center
experts say represent the opposite of a ―mellow high.‖ In the case of bath salts, for example, poison
center officials report instances of severe paranoia that has caused users to harm themselves and
others.
 Keep Tennessee Poison Center’s number near your phone: 1-800-222-1222. Remember: You can call
your poison center to ask about these substances even if you have not been exposed to them. Poison
centers are open 24 hours a day, seven days a week, and take both emergency and nonemergency calls.
This newsletter is brought to you by Tennessee Poison Center and was produced with assistance
from the American Association of Poison Control Centers and local poison centers around the
country. When you dial 1-800-222-1222, your call is answered by a medical professional with
special training in poisoning management. Help is fast, free, confidential, and available 24 hours a
day, every day.
TENNESSEE POISON CENTER
EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR & MEDICAL DIRECTOR
Donna Seger, MD
MANAGING DIRECTOR
John Benitez, MD, MPH
ATTENDING TOXICOLOGY PHYSICIAN
Saralyn Reid Williams, MD
DIRECTOR OF COMMUNITY OUTREACH
Josephine Darwin
ADMINISTRATIVE MANAGER
Lisa Graham
PROGRAM COORDINATOR
Suzy Brock
COMMUNITY BOARD
POISON SPECIALISTS
Linda Bandy, BSN, MSN, CSPI
Isabel Fiala, RN, CSPI
Tonya Fentress, RN
Michelle Grant, MSN, FNP, NP-C, CSPI
Sherri Hails, BSN, RN, CSPI
Suparna Kumar, MD, CSPI
Renee Miller, RN, MSN
Jeff Moore, BS, RN, CSPI
Scott Muir, BSN, CSPI
Donna Taylor, RN, CSPI
Marilyn Weber, BSN, MSN, CSPI
Cheri Wessels, BSN, CSPI
Chair—Laurie Lawrence, MD
Kim Barker Ayes, PharmD
Elena Camacho Byrd
Judy Gaffron
Sarah Haverstick
Janie Hughart
Judy Kovach
Pete Murphy
Nate Parrish
Alice Rothman, MD
Seth Scholer, MD