The British Hospital strengthens its team for the integral approach in toxicology

The British Hospital aims to the addictions´ integral prevention, for which it has specially trained medical and professional corps, for both adults and youngsters, to which Dr. Antonio Pascale, specialist and professor in toxicology has joined.  Pascale´s integration as a consultant, who is an Associate Professor of Toxicology of the Republic University of the Faculty of Medicine, is added to the emergency and hospitalization team in acute situations, as well as to the labor on addictions´ prevention, mainly drugs and alcohol. The emphasis on adolescents and the role of the family is essential, that´s why for some years now some work on this issue has been done through the Adolescent Clinic, not only internally but also in the lectures given to parents. In the last days the debate has settled on the subject of consumption of synthetic or designer drugs. Pascale recalled that according to surveys known in the country, the prevalence rate is between 2.5 and 2.8%. He mentioned that between 2 and 3 youngsters of 100 consumed synthetic drugs, including ecstasy, and according to the available information in the "experimental" mode. Facing the debate whether to consume or damage reduction, or informed consumption, Pascale replied that “all levels of prevention are important”. He explained that "the main prevention is to prevent consumption and report the risks in order to avoid the experience", while "secondary prevention means avoiding complications when consumption has already settled." He claimed the importance of primary prevention but recalled that "facing reality is important to keep in mind other levels of prevention." He pointed out that "the problem with synthetic drugs, mainly synthesis amphetamine, is that there are a wide variety of chemicals, with variations in  composition, and may have different effects." This includes the possibility of "cuts" or "dopants". The specialist stressed the importance of communicating the people that any drug has its risks, whether is natural or synthetic, and also recalled that "the problem with synthetic drugs is that many times the person does not inquiry about problems at family, social, labor, entailment or social level. The consultation arises at the level of overdose or complications with consumption. " In the case of drugs of this type, he considered very important "to maintain alertness and the level of concern about the substance which is being consumed, of which there is little information of its composition. In Toxicology this is very important”. Finally, he drew the attention to the danger of mixing synthetic drugs with the use of other substances such as alcohol and cocaine.