Stimulants

Stimulant Procedure and common scenarios

Characteristics

Stimulants can increase heart rate, blood pressure, and body temperature; panic can also raise heart rate and blood pressure. A typical resting heart rate is 60-100 bpm for a healthy human adult, and the maximum healthy heart rate is typically around 220 - the person's age. Heart rate can be checked online at http://onlineheartrate.com/. 

Stimulants can cause a person to talk rapidly, interrupt, and appear agitated. It's essential to remain patient and listen to what they say.

People on stimulants can become easily agitated and aggressive. Avoid arguing or engaging in any behavior that could escalate the situation.

Certain stimulants can make helpees at a higher risk for seizures (see Seizure for more info). Assess the situation and, when necessary, encourage them to seek medical care.

Stimulant comedowns can be pretty rough. TripSit has a Quick Guide to Stimulant Comedowns to aid helpees through the comedown.

Procedure

First, determine what drug(s) the helpee has taken and determine how much they have taken, how long ago they took it, and if they have any tolerance to those substances. Depending on the concerns the helpee raised, it may be essential to ask about medications distinctly from asking about "drugs" the helpee has taken.

Performing basic wellness checks can be helpful, especially if the helpee has been redosing or "binging." Ask the helpee if they have been eating, drinking, and sleeping regularly. It can also be helpful to remind people using stimulants to make sure they get up and move around every so often. However, vigorous exercise is not typically recommended when using higher doses of stimulants.

Stimulant Psychosis

One of the more significant risks with stimulant use is psychosis, usually caused by extended periods of use where the helpee has not slept for some time. If a helpee reports seeing, hearing, or feeling things that are not present, determine if the helpee has slept recently. If not, encourage them to try and rest, as that often can resolve symptoms. As always, when in doubt, refer Helpees to medical care.

Stimulant Overdose

If the helpee who has taken a higher dose of a stimulant reports any of the following symptoms, it might be time to call EMS.

Stroke OR hypertensive crisis (high blood pressure that requires emergency attention): losing the ability to move a limb, losing the ability to speak, facial paralysis on one side, shortness of breath, blurred vision, numbness and tingling, sudden loss of balance/lack of coordination

Seizure requiring emergency attention: lasts more than 5 minutes, the person remains unconscious, it's a first-time seizure, or the person has multiple episodes.