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Dope Scope

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Parent Issue
Day
2
Month
July
Year
1971
OCR Text

"DOWN AND OUT!"

I feel very sad at the compulsion I have to write this column, on caring for the downer overdose. But so many brothers and sisters are starting to play with downs that I feel its necessary for community first aid, to try to save these brothers and sisters from the ever-infringing death culture. Thank God that the Ann Arbor scene is not like that in nearby Detroit, where downer freaks are all over. While visiting a friend at Common Ground the other night, this one haggard, sunken eyed sister came over to us- "Coould I be all-er-gic to Toooinalll...?". Very sad, as the death culture marches on, the "legitimate" drug companies in this great country making enough barbituates to give every man, woman and child at least 25 caps every year. Anyway, back to caring for the overdosed victim...

Death by barbituates does not occur nearly as quickly as in a heroin overdose. In the smack O.D., you stop breathing, and death can occur in a few minutes. With the barbituate O.D., the person's consciousness sinks into a coma and gradually the person just fades right out. They may stay in coma for hours, days or weeks before either dying or coming out of it. The best way, and only way given any kind of recommendation, is immediate hospitalization where i good emergency life-support equipment is available. This is extremely important as the saving of downer O.D.s is a very complex medical art, involving the use of special stimulants and respiratory equipment, etc. This hospitalization procedure is in cases of unconsciousness, or sinking consciousness where it is apparent that they are soon going to be unavoidably unconscious.

If the person is conscious, you can induce vomiting with a raw egg or warm soapy water. Keep them awake, walk them around, responding to questions, slapping if need be, as anger stimulates the whole system. Keep them warm, too. After four or five hours he or she can be allowed to sleep half hour intervals, watching their breathing. They can be given tea or coffee (no stronger stimulant should be given if they are conscious).

If, however, the person is unconscious, or overdosed by injection (a lot of brothers and sisters shoot their downs, too) forget about vomiting.

Another hassle with downers that has to be remembered is that the withdrawal from them is extremely dangerous, and that it should never be recommended to someone that they try to just kick on their own from barbituates if they've been using them steadily. Withdrawal from barbs is a very life-threatening experience that can precipitate grande mal seizures weeks after the use of the barbs is stopped. The signs of when someone is through the withdrawal period are difficult to spot, and people should definitely consult a doctor in quitting a barituate habit, and very seriously consider hospitalization.

SMACK O.D. Clarification- I hope that it was not read in the column on smack O.D.s that shooting someone up with milk is useful... the only thing that is injectable that is really useful is a narcotic antagonist like Nalline...in fact it was brought to my attention that the gunking up of the veins action that shooting milk could have can be downright dangerous all by its self.

STAY HIGH-