Common plants and their toxicity.

This article contains information about plants that have a potential for producing acute toxicity. The two largest sections are in tabular format, that is, a list of plants reported to have a potential for producing acute toxicity and a table of plants that have been used as food suggesting that they have little toxic potential. For each plant cited in the first table, at least one specific category of toxicity is listed, and references are made to brief management overviews that are presented at the end of the article.

The role of drug information centers with consumers.

Heightened concern about drug abuse during the late 1960s prompted community leaders to request that the University of Cincinnati's Drug Information Center extend its services to the public. More than 500,000 inquiries have been handled by the Center since it first offered these services. The Center's "hotline" provides information, advice, counseling, and/or emergency treatment and referral information and is extensively involved in community outreach and prevention efforts. Providing reliable, authoritative, and beneficial information requires that all staff be professionally qualified and receive extensive training, pass specialized certification tests, follow structured policies and guidelines, and effectively use consultants. Impressions of the roles, impact, and need for such services in the 1980s are discussed.

Consumer focus of a university drug and poison information center.

The consumer-oriented aspect of a university drug and poison information center is described. The University of Cincinnati Medical Center began its 24-hour consumer drug information telephone service in 1972. It is staffed by seven full-time employees, and pharmacists and pharmacy residents of nearby hospitals handle evening and weekend calls. All participating personnel are trained in structured programs. The $78,000 annual budget for the consumer drug information service is funded exclusively from external sources such as mental health agencies, foundations, and donations. Of 40,719 calls handled by the center in 1979, 83% were from the public. The total annual call volume has increased by 250% since 1972. In telephone follow-up of consumer calls, 73% of persons claimed they followed verbatim the advice given. Of calls during 1972, 1974, 1977, and 1979, 32.2% concerned drug abuse; 28.6%, identification of ingredients; and 10.9%, efficacy. Data from a three-month study in 1979 showed that the goal perceived by the information provider was to satisfy the curiosity of the caller 63.6% of the time (35.6% of the time immediate action was indicated). The authors believe that the center promotes appropriate use of physicians and pharmacists as sources of information for consumers.

Abuse and pulmonary complications of injecting pentazocine and tripelennamine tablets.

A current practice among drug abusers in certain Midwestern and Eastern cities is the intravenous injection of aqueous mixtures prepared from tablets of pentazocine and tripelennamine. Patients present with acute hypoxic episodes and symptoms suggesting physical dependence to pentazocine. Two cases are presented illustrating acute respiratory distress with hypoxia. Available evidence indicates that the respiratory syndrome is produced by talc from the injected tablets. Respiratory support and short-term oxygen therapy have been effective in managing this syndrome. Approaches to the treatment of pentazocine dependence and the role of the antihistamine in potentiating the narcotic activity are also discussed. Physicians, drug abuse counselors, and others should be aware of the abuse potential and pulmonary damage which can result from the intravenous use of this drug combination.

Popping and snorting volatile nitrites: a current fad for getting high.

In certain social circles a variety of volatile nitrites are being used extensively to expand creativity, stimulate music appreciation, promote a sense of abandon in dancing, and intensify sexual experience. Soon after amyl nitrite (the prototype of this group) became a prescription drug, legally produced substitutes appeared and were sold as room odorizers. Analyses of eight of these substitutes showed them to contain isomers of butyl or amyl alcohol and a corresponding nitrite. The authors describe the context of use of these products and their desired and adverse effects.

A comparison of four toxicology resources in respect to rates of retrieval and time required.

An evaluation was conducted fo four periodically updated poison control resources widely used by pediatricians, emergency room personnel, and poison information/control centers; i.e., Poisindex, ToxiFile, Clinical Toxicology of Commercial Products, and the National Clearinghouse for Poison Control Centers' cards. The frequency of finding entries for substances known to be involved in accidental pediatric ingestions, the extent of the content and management information, and the time required to obtain the information were determined for the four resources. Poisindex was more complete than the other resources. ToxiFile was more useful than the remaining two resources, although the latter should be useful in over 70% of accidental toxic ingestions by children.