NEW DELHI: The Heart Care Foundation of India (HCFI) and the Federation of National Capital Region Doctors have released guidelines for the public in the wake of the rising problem of drug abuse.

Releasing the guidelines here over the weekend, HCFI president K. K. Aggarwal said: "What Rahul Mahajan and Bibek Moitra probably suffered is acute cocaine poisoning which happens when you are not accustomed to cocaine. A dose of 700 mg taken orally can be fatal. It is apparent that they bought 5 gm of cocaine, which was to be shared by three people by way of inhalation. It was too high a dose to be experimented and which leads to acute intoxication."

"It can cause convulsions and cardiac respiratory arrest, which apparently two of the three had. Convulsions were apparent as one was frothing at the mouth. Blood pressure was low, pulse was low and respiration was depressed. One of them died as no first aid could be given in time. Cocaine and other drugs should never be mixed with alcohol. Cocaine and alcohol together form a deadly combination called cocaldihyde that is more toxic than each agent alone. The take-home message is that people who experiment drugs for the first time can end up with acute intoxication and even death," Dr. Aggarwal said.

When drugs were inhaled, one could not be sure about the quantity absorbed, and so one can end up with acute intoxication, he added. "Alcohol, if consumed more than five pegs in one hour, can cause an acute rise in blood pressure, precipitate irregularities of the heart and can even cause sudden cardiac death. First exposure to alcohol can cause vomiting, gastric irritation and even brain involvement. Date rape drugs are colourless, tasteless, odourless and cannot be differentiated if added to water," he said.

Immediate medical aid

In case of acute intoxication, first aid involves maintenance of vitals and immediate medical attention.

The patient may vomit, but if any of it goes into the respiratory tract, it can cause fatal respiratory arrest. While handling an unconscious patient, one should not put a pillow under the head and should keep the face extended and on one side.

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