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Title: Pot-related poison control calls up in Washington, Colorado
Source:
Yahoo News
URL Source: http://news.yahoo.com/pot-related-p ... ington-colorado-183622395.html
Published: Jan 24, 2015
Author: GENE JOHNSON
Post Date: 2015-01-24 01:27:09 by Gatlin
Keywords: None
Views: 5164
Comments: 15
SEATTLE (AP) — Marijuana-related calls to poison control centers in Washington and Colorado have spiked since the states began allowing legal sales last year, with an especially troubling increase in calls concerning young children. But it's not clear how much of the increase might be related to more people using marijuana, as opposed to people feeling more comfortable to report their problems now that the drug is legal for adults over 21. New year-end data being presented to Colorado's Legislature next week show that the Rocky Mountain Poison and Drug Center received 151 calls for marijuana exposure last year, the first year of retail recreational pot sales. That was up from 88 calls in 2013 and 61 in 2012, the year voters legalized pot. Calls to the Washington Poison Center for marijuana exposures jumped by more than half, from 158 in 2013 to 246 last year. Public health experts say they are especially concerned about young children accidentally eating marijuana edibles. Calls involving children nearly doubled in both states: to 48 in Washington involving children 12 or under, and to 45 in Colorado involving children 8 or under. "There's a bit of a relaxed attitude that this is safe because it's a natural plant, or derived from a natural plant," Dr. Alex Garrard, clinical managing director of the Washington Poison Center. "But this is still a drug. You wouldn't leave Oxycontin lying around on a countertop with kids around, or at least you shouldn't." Around half of Washington's calls last year involved hospital visits, with most of the patients being evaluated and released from an emergency room, Garrard said. Ten people were admitted to intensive care units — half of them under 20 years old. Children who wind up going to the hospital for marijuana exposure can find themselves subject to blood tests or spinal taps, Garrard said, because if they seem lethargic and parents don't realize they got into marijuana, doctors might first check for meningitis or other serious conditions. Dr. Leslie Walker, chief of adolescent medicine at Seattle Children's Hospital, said her facility has had cases where young children needed to be intubated because they were having trouble breathing after consuming marijuana — a terrifically scary experience for parents. Pot-related calls to Washington's poison center began rising steadily several years ago as medical marijuana dispensaries started proliferating in the state. In 2006, there were just 47 calls. That rose to 150 in 2010 and 162 before actually dropping by a few calls in 2013, a year in which adults could use marijuana but before legal recreational sales had started. Calls about exposure to marijuana combined with other drugs spiked in Colorado, too. There were 70 such calls last year, up from 39 calls in 2013 and 49 calls in 2012. Both states saw increases in calls across all age groups. Colorado's biggest increase was among adults over 25 — from 40 in 2013 to 102 calls last year. Washington had a big jump in calls concerning teens, from 40 in 2013 to 61 last year. Many of the products involved in Washington's exposure cases are found at the state's unregulated medical marijuana dispensaries, but not licensed recreational shops, which are barred from selling marijuana gummy bears or other items that might appeal to children, Garrard said. Medical dispensaries far outnumber legal stores across the state. Some especially potent marijuana products — such as hash oil — have become more popular in recent years, which could also factor into the increased calls to poison control centers. The Washington Legislature is working now on proposals for reining in the medical marijuana industry — and limiting what they can sell. Both states have taken steps to try to keep marijuana products away from children, such as requiring child-resistant packaging in licensed stores. In Denver, authorities charged a couple with child abuse last month, saying their 3-year-old daughter tested positive for marijuana. The couple brought the girl to a hospital after she became sick. Ben Reagan, a medical marijuana advocate with The Center for Palliative Care in Seattle, said at a recent conference that he had long dealt with parents whose children accidentally got into marijuana. It used to be less likely that they would call an official entity for help, he said. "Those things have been occurring this whole time," Reagan said. "What you now have is an atmosphere where people are much more comfortable going to the emergency room." "Before, you'd just look at your buddy and say, 'Sorry, dude. You're going to have to deal with it all night,' " he added. "'We're not calling nobody.'"
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#1. To: Gatlin (#0)
Nonsense. Oxycontin will definitely kill. Has there ever been a death from any marijuana overdose case? I haven't read of any. It would have to be pretty extreme overdosing.
Info here. Highly (pun intended) unlikely. http://www.newhealthguide.org/Can-You-Overdose-On-Marijuana.html I think the pot only users don't overdose from the linked article. However, they mention users who mix other drugs with pot are more likely to overdose.
"And they sung a new song, saying, Thou art worthy to take the book, and to open the seals thereof: for thou wast slain, and hast redeemed us to God by thy blood out of every kindred, and tongue, and people, and nation;" (Revelation 5:9)
Quoting your page: Yep, unlikely.
You are jumping to an assumptive conclusion the marijuana “poison” the article is citing only causes deaths and forgetting the definition of “poison.” There is an increase in “marijuana poisonings” … a result which can occur from consuming too many weed-infused edible products. Edibles may be an even worse way to consume marijuana. Especially large amounts of THC can induce feeling of anxiety and paranoia can lead to panic attacks. So you are correct in that it is highly improbable that death will occur, but you may “feel like you are going to die” when too much is ingested.
Strawman. The doctor never said nor implied that marijuana was lethal. He said marijuana was not safe. And it isn't.
Unlikely as stated in its pure herb form. As grapes and grain won't kill you eating them too much, but the fermentation to make alcohol can. Enter in that the most vocal of pot legalization supporters raise up a pure herb one can grow in their garden. This is true in the info paper I linked. However the reality is most of the youth out there lace the pot with other elements such as Angel dust (and others). I have conversed with young people and have heard them explain to the adults on how pot "is good for you" and the merits of it. They asked me my opinion on the matter. I told them from a Christian perspective drugs even alcohol and pot lower the inhibitions of the person thus opening possibilities in which that person would normally have the strength to resist. Which in a young persons life would be sex, more drugs or more alcohol bringing them to physical, mental and spiritual harm and even death. I was respectfully received but received some smirks and shrugs. A very good friend's daughter graduated from HS second in her class. She had every university at her feet. That summer while partying with "friends" she took her first toke of pot. She lost all consciousness of her actions after a few more tokes. It is obvious the pot was laced with something. She went missing for 12 hours only to be found in her car miles from home not knowing where she was or what happened. You would think she would take that as a lesson. However, another "friend" invited her to another such party with pot, other drugs and alcohol. Again she quickly lost time and if not for the fortitude of a stranger walking in on the gang rape, would probably be dead. A new arrival to drugs and alcohol this 19 year old now tried to live with the knowledge of what happened to her. As with many women who are violated in this way she tried to take her life. If it was not for her brother making an unexpected visit home getting off work early, she would most likely be dead. Then after recovering, looking for love she gets into an unwise relationship, gets pregnant and now has twins. All at age 20. My friend is supporting her and the babies right now while the father of the babies mulls whether he wants to get married. So people can speak the merits of such and such but drugs, pot and alcohol do lower people's inhibitions which can have some of the most dire or life changing consequences.
"And they sung a new song, saying, Thou art worthy to take the book, and to open the seals thereof: for thou wast slain, and hast redeemed us to God by thy blood out of every kindred, and tongue, and people, and nation;" (Revelation 5:9)
Excellent post!!!
That would make a good plot for a Chick comic.
Yet soberly real and sad. However the twin babies are beautiful and healthy. Which of course has my wife over there daily to help out so she can see them and hold them:)
"And they sung a new song, saying, Thou art worthy to take the book, and to open the seals thereof: for thou wast slain, and hast redeemed us to God by thy blood out of every kindred, and tongue, and people, and nation;" (Revelation 5:9)
Been watching "Reefer Madness" or something? Geesh, where do you get this crap from?
There are Fantasy-Island people who think legalizing drugs would reduce crime and reduce the overuse of drugs. I don't know if these beliefs stem from use of illegal drugs influencing the minds, low I.Q., wishful thinking, or deliberate attempts to change how people look at drug usage.
IRL.
"And they sung a new song, saying, Thou art worthy to take the book, and to open the seals thereof: for thou wast slain, and hast redeemed us to God by thy blood out of every kindred, and tongue, and people, and nation;" (Revelation 5:9)
As you know, I approach this from a Christian perspective. I gave one example of a young woman who made some bad decisions (or lack thereof) to which others took advantage to violate her. Drugs whatever the type changes one's inhibitions, judgements and faculties. They open doors normally shut or cracked open a bit.
"And they sung a new song, saying, Thou art worthy to take the book, and to open the seals thereof: for thou wast slain, and hast redeemed us to God by thy blood out of every kindred, and tongue, and people, and nation;" (Revelation 5:9)
Geesh, where do you get this crap from? My 42 y.o. daughter didn't listen to me and got involved with and married a pot smoker after graduating from college. She had serious problems with paranoia from smoking pot, and had to be admitted several times to the psych wing of SM Hospital, between 1999 and 2006. The hospital staff told me that over 70% of the admissions to the psych floor were the result of smoking pot.
“Let no one mourn that he has fallen again and again; for forgiveness has risen, from the grave.” John Chrysostom www.evidenceforJesusChrist.org
"There's a bit of a relaxed attitude that this is safe because it's a natural plant, or derived from a natural plant," Dr. Alex Garrard, clinical managing director of the Washington Poison Center. "But this is still a drug. You wouldn't leave Oxycontin lying around on a countertop with kids around, or at least you shouldn't."
#2. To: TooConservative (#1)
#3. To: redleghunter (#2)
A fatal marijuana overdose in humans would take 40,000 times the amount of THC that it took to get them high in the first place. In comparison, it would only take 5 to 10 times the amount of alcohol to get drunk to kill a human. If you can get drunk on 3 beers, then 15 to 30 beers can cause death. If you inhale 3 puffs of marijuana smoke and get high, then you would have to take 120,000 puffs of marijuana smoke to be fatal. In this sense, it is nearly impossible to die from an overdose of marijuana. Again, it depends on the purity of the marijuana and the health status of the individual so these amounts may vary depending on the situation.
#4. To: TooConservative, redleghunter (#3)
A fatal marijuana overdose in humans …
Poison: A substance that is capable of causing the illness or death of a living organism when introduced or absorbed.
Just four days into the New Year, a 2-year-old girl living in Longmont, Colo., was sent to the emergency room after she ate a cookie she found outside of her home. Unknowing that it was an edible, and despite her mother telling her to throw it away, she still ate it. (The doctor) says that he’s treated multiple children who fell ill from marijuana products. The effects of such products are not unique to children either — earlier this month, 21-year-old Levy Thamba ate an unknown amount of marijuana cookies, and subsequently became “agitated and upset” right before running off his hotel balcony and falling to his death. It was the first time he ever used marijuana, his friends told the NY Daily News. Source.
#5. To: TooConservative (#1)
"Has there ever been a death from any marijuana overdose case?"
#6. To: TooConservative, GarySpFc (#3)
#7. To: redleghunter, TooConservative, GarySpFc (#6)
#8. To: redleghunter (#6)
However, another "friend" invited her to another such party with pot, other drugs and alcohol. Again she quickly lost time and if not for the fortitude of a stranger walking in on the gang rape, would probably be dead. ...
#9. To: TooConservative (#8)
#10. To: redleghunter (#6)
However the reality is most of the youth out there lace the pot with other elements such as Angel dust (and others).
“Truth is treason in the empire of lies.” - Ron Paul
Americans who have no experience with, or knowledge of, tyranny believe that only terrorists will experience the unchecked power of the state. They will believe this until it happens to them, or their children, or their friends.
Paul Craig Roberts
#11. To: redleghunter (#6)
#12. To: Deckard (#10)
Geesh, where do you get this crap from?
#13. To: Don (#11)
There are Fantasy-Island people who think legalizing drugs would reduce crime and reduce the overuse of drugs. I don't know if these beliefs stem from use of illegal drugs influencing the minds, low I.Q., wishful thinking, or deliberate attempts to change how people look at drug usage.
#14. To: Gatlin (#0)
#15. To: Deckard, Redleghunter, all (#10)
Been watching "Reefer Madness" or something?
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