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canucker · 09-25-2003, 08:14 AM

Ananova:

Australian medical alert: 'Don't put ice cubes up bottoms'

Australian medical experts are warning would-be first aiders of the dangers of using ice cube "enemas" to revive friends from drug overdoses.

Government officials say putting ice cubes up the rectums of unconscious people has no physiological benefit and can even lead to seizures and stroke.

According to Paul Dillon, research officer with the Australian National Drug and Alcohol Research Centre, some people have been attempting to insert ice cubes into the anuses of friends who have become unconscious after taking the party drug GHB in the mistaken belief that it will revive them.

But GHB overdose expert David Caldicott, of the Emergency Department of Royal Adelaide Hospital, said the practice is potentially hazardous.

Quoted in the gay community newspaper the Sydney Star Observer, Dr Caldicott said putting an object into the rectum of someone not expecting it could cause a "vagal" reaction, the Herald Sun newspaper reports.

This occurs when the vagus nerve, which slows the heart, is activated.

On top of the blood pressure-lowering effects of GBH, a vagal reaction can potentially stop blood flow to the brain. The matter should not be treated as a joke, Mr Dillon said.

"An overdose in a club is embarrassing enough for the person involved," he told the Star Observer.

"The sight of the incapacitated person with their pants around their ankles having people inserting ice cubes is beyond humiliating and potentially dangerous.

"Some of the people doing this should know better and should not pretend to be trained medical professionals." The procedure could also result in charges of sexual assault, he said.

09-25-2003, 08:14 AM	#1 (permalink)
canucker Crazy	Don't do this Ananova: Australian medical alert: 'Don't put ice cubes up bottoms' Australian medical experts are warning would-be first aiders of the dangers of using ice cube "enemas" to revive friends from drug overdoses. Government officials say putting ice cubes up the rectums of unconscious people has no physiological benefit and can even lead to seizures and stroke. According to Paul Dillon, research officer with the Australian National Drug and Alcohol Research Centre, some people have been attempting to insert ice cubes into the anuses of friends who have become unconscious after taking the party drug GHB in the mistaken belief that it will revive them. But GHB overdose expert David Caldicott, of the Emergency Department of Royal Adelaide Hospital, said the practice is potentially hazardous. Quoted in the gay community newspaper the Sydney Star Observer, Dr Caldicott said putting an object into the rectum of someone not expecting it could cause a "vagal" reaction, the Herald Sun newspaper reports. This occurs when the vagus nerve, which slows the heart, is activated. On top of the blood pressure-lowering effects of GBH, a vagal reaction can potentially stop blood flow to the brain. The matter should not be treated as a joke, Mr Dillon said. "An overdose in a club is embarrassing enough for the person involved," he told the Star Observer. "The sight of the incapacitated person with their pants around their ankles having people inserting ice cubes is beyond humiliating and potentially dangerous. "Some of the people doing this should know better and should not pretend to be trained medical professionals." The procedure could also result in charges of sexual assault, he said. __________________ Go hard or go home; Just don't go home hard.