RescueDigest Resources: Designer Drugs

Bath Salts and Synthetic Marijuana: New and Deadly Drugs
Emergency Services in North American and Europe are confronted with a surge in new designer drugs with so-called “Bath-Salts” and “Spice” or synthetic marijuana are at the top of the list.

As law enforcement and regulators work to stem the marketing of current products and the development of new ones, Police, Fire and EMS responders are finding themselves at risk as they try to protect the public and abusers themselves from these terrifying chemicals.

RescueDigest Editorial Director Rom Duckworth wrote the article for FireEngineering Magazine on Bath Salts and Synthetic Marijuana: An Emerging Threat which includes discussion on Excited Delirium as a potential fatal side effect of these and other designer drugs.

Bath Salts and Synthetic Marijuana is also the topic of Fire Engineering’s Podcast Firemedically Speaking Episode #301 Aired Live on Friday, July 6th at 7:30 pm EDT.

Lieutenant Rom Duckworth, EMS Coordinator for the Ridgefield Fire Department (CT), talks with FireEMS editor Mike McEvoy about challenges of responding to these new and ever changing overdoses.

More information and Resources on Bath Salts:

Synthetic Marijuana:

The New England Center for Rescue and Emergency Medicine Presentation:

About romduck

Rom Duckworth is a dedicated emergency responder, author, and educator with more than thirty years of experience working in career and volunteer fire departments, hospital healthcare systems, and private emergency medical services. Rom is a career fire captain and paramedic EMS Coordinator for the Ridgefield (CT) Fire Department and director of the New England Center for Rescue and Emergency Medicine. Rom holds a master’s degree in public administration, is a graduate of the National Fire Academy’s Executive Fire Officer program, and is the recipient of the NAEMT Presidential Award, American Red Cross Hero Award, Sepsis Alliance Sepsis Hero Award, and the EMS 10 Innovators Award. Rom is the author of "Duckworth on Education," as well as chapters in more than a dozen EMS, fire, rescue, and medical textbooks and over 100 published articles in fire and EMS magazines. A member of the NAEMT Board of Directors, as well as other national and international advocacy and advisory boards, Rom continues to work for the advancement of emergency services professions. Contact Rom via www.romduck.com