Individuals under the influence of drugs or alcohol may be encountered by security guards. They must be knowledgeable of the indicators of substance misuse as well as the effects of various drugs on human behaviour (e.g., suspect experiencing withdrawal) in order to deal with these persons in a way that keeps both you and the suspect safe.
Addictions
When an addict’s yearning for a substance or enjoyable activity becomes uncontrollable, it becomes a mental disorder. The addict’s need for whatever it is that he or she needs prohibits him or her from leading a regular life. Even when there is no obvious physical harm, addiction frequently results in a loss of mental equilibrium. We will focus on two of the several forms of addictions.
Drugs and Alcohol
Alcohol is a substance in and of itself, but it is handled separately because, while addiction to alcohol shares certain characteristics with addiction to other drugs, alcoholism is a particularly frequent illness. Drug abuse and addiction are becoming increasingly prevalent in modern life. Many harmful substances are available in Canada, both officially and illegally.
Laxatives and Weight Loss Medications
Another factor to consider is the prevalence of drugs and how they interact with psychological addictions. People suffering from Bulimia, Anorexia, and other eating disorders may utilize medicines to aid in the removal of food from their systems or as a weight reduction approach. This is extremely widespread among young people, particularly young ladies in high school and college. Security officers should be familiar with laxative drugs and weight reduction diet tablets, especially in locations frequented by young people.
Alcoholism
People who get addicted to alcohol typically begin drinking heavily in order to ease personal, business, and/or social stress. They eventually begin to drink anytime they feel anxious since they typically receive the relaxation they seek, albeit only momentarily and at the expense of periodic hangovers. The more they drink, the less strain they can bear while not drinking. If you have reached a point where you need to drink not just to alleviate anxiety but also to feel normal, you may be an alcoholic or on the verge of becoming one. If unrestrained drinking has begun to impact your health and interfere with your personal and professional life, you must seek quick therapy.
Before reaching this stage, some people can drink more and more frequently than others. This distinction is determined in part by your physical tolerance for alcohol. The transition from social drinking to alcoholism can happen gradually over time, or it might happen suddenly. Drinking habits differ greatly as well. Some alcoholics binge drink for one to several days at a time, with dry or non-drinking intervals in between. Others drink incessantly and are never completely sober. Some people exclusively drink wine, gin, or beer, whilst others will drink anything alcoholic.
It is very hard to generalize about what causes alcoholism and how it develops. However, it is generally true that persons in the early stages of alcoholism may handle more alcohol without experiencing signs of the condition than those in the later stages.
The most common issues are undoubtedly those involving the usage of alcohol. Alcoholism is a medical condition. It necessitates medical attention. It is most likely to occur in those who have not completely evolved emotionally for whatever reason.
Treatment centres for alcoholics have sprouted up all over the country, and groups like Alcoholics Anonymous are doing a lot of good (A.A.).
How do you approach such a circumstance as a Security Guard? You can be tough or careless or easy, considerate, understanding, courteous or meticulous, and concerned about the individual you are attempting to help. Obviously, no rules can be established that apply to every scenario, but common sense typically ensures correct treatment of such instances. Instead of applying the rules blindly, learn the facts and utilize mature judgment. The procedures used to deal with drunk people are the same as those used to deal with troubled and sad people.
Alcohol Poisoning
Alcohol and other ethanol-based drinks depress the central nervous system. When a person consumes excessive amounts of alcohol, their blood pressure gets so saturated with alcohol that it creates rapid and harmful repercussions, the severity of which is dictated by parameters such as metabolic rate, weight, eating habits, and hydration levels. Accidents involving coordination deficits, asphyxiation by vomiting, and loss of muscular control can result in serious medical concerns or even death.
Drug Addiction
People start using drugs for one of two reasons. The medications are either given by a doctor to cure a medical or mental illness, or they provide a joyful effect, such as the warm carefree sleep provided by heroin, or the mild alertness generated by caffeine in coffee, tea, or cola. The addictiveness of a specific substance varies greatly, not just from drug to drug, but also from person to person. Mildly addictive medications like codeine, as well as cannabis (marijuana) and cocaine, are referred to as “soft” or “hard” drugs.
Anyone who is addicted to a hard drug must consume it in steadily increasing dosages in order to preserve the enjoyable benefits of the substance and to avoid bodily and emotional breakdown. Tolerance to the medicine is what this is termed. If the addict’s demand for the substance is not met, he or she will experience painful physical and psychological repercussions known as withdrawal symptoms. In extreme situations, withdrawal symptoms can be dangerous, even fatal, and drug withdrawal should be carefully managed.
The laws impose harsh penalties for individuals guilty of illegal drug use, possession, or sale. The necessity for these rules stems from the reality that drug usage is likely to result in habituation, tolerance, and eventually dependency.
It could be useful to define the following three terms:
(a) Addiction. The propensity to become mentally reliant on a substance to the point that the user feels he cannot function without it. When he or she is no longer able to take the medicine, no bodily signs or negative consequences occur.
(b) Tolerance. The fact that increasing doses of the medication are required to generate the intended mental/physical impact.
(c) Reliance. A condition in which the body has become so reliant on the substance that withdrawal causes agony and symptoms such as vomiting and heavy perspiration. When addiction is serious, abrupt removal from the substance may result in death.
Persons under the influence of drugs are treated in the same way as disturbed or depressed people. It is important to remember that drug users, like alcoholics, are psychologically and physically ill.
Drugs and their Effects
A drug is any non-nutritional chemical compound that may be absorbed by the body. The term “drug” is often used to refer to either a medicine or something consumed (typically deliberately by inhalation, injection, or skin absorption) to have a transitory effect. The two groups may overlap. Morphine can be prescribed as a medical therapy for pain relief. It provides a momentary sensation of well-being when provided by an otherwise healthy individual. Some medications, such as morphine and nicotine, are addictive (or, more precisely, the caffeine they offer may be addicting) and can hurt some people.
Security professionals typically deal with three types of drugs while on the job: narcotics, psychotropic medications, and inhalants and alternative substances.
Narcotics Substances
Narcotic drugs are a broad category of illegal narcotics that have extremely addictive properties and pose a high risk of addiction. Cannabis and its derivatives, cocaine, heroin, methadone, morphine, and opium are only a few examples. This group also includes drugs that are routinely used for medicinal purposes but may have addictive qualities and a high potential for misuse, such as codeine, dihydrocodeine, and propiram (opioid analgesics).
Psychotropic Substances
Psychotropic drugs are those that have a high risk of misuse, pose a particularly significant hazard to public health, and have little or no therapeutic benefit. These include dangerous drugs such as LSD, MDMA, mescaline, psilocybin, tetrahydrocannabinol, amphetamines and amphetamine-type stimulants, barbiturates including amobarbital, buprenorphine, tranquillizers, analgesics, and narcotics including allobarbital, diazepam, lorazepam, Phenobarbital, and temazepam. Alcohol is also a psychotropic substance since it has psychoactive effects on the user.
Inhalants and Alternative Substances
Another type of drug comprises both psychotropic and narcotic compounds, but the user obtains them through different ways. Those who use inhalants and other alternative substances to become drunk are typically persons who do not have access to other drugs or alcohol, such as children, teens, jailed people, and marginalized people. Organic solvents (cleaning solutions, adhesives, nail polish removers), fuels, and other compounds that emit hazardous fumes that may be breathed are examples of inhalants (in many cases these are used for medical purposes, such as a dentist using nitrous oxide on patients requiring surgery). Many popular aerosol items include psychotropic and narcotic ingredients that can be ingested or manipulated to offer drug access.
Inhalant users breathe in vapour or aerosol propellant gases using plastic bags placed over their mouths, or through a solvent-soaked cloth or an open container. Because the dose and potency are not meant for human consumption, the effects can include alcohol-like drunkenness and hallucinations, as well as major medical concerns such as hypoxia, pneumonia, and cardiovascular difficulties as a result of drug misuse. Other consumables include ethanol-based drinks and stimulant decongestants that can be used to achieve the required amount of drunkenness.
The following is a list of some of the most regularly seen goods that are frequently related with intoxication:
- Mouthwash
- Rubbing Alcohol
- Hand Sanitizers
- Cooking Wines
- Paint Thinners
- Aerosol Based Paints
- Industrial Adhesives and Glues
- Dimenhydrinate (Anti-nauseates)
- Pseudoephedrine Hydrochloride (Decongestant)
MDMA/Ecstasy
MDMA is commonly taken orally as a pill or capsule. When ecstasy is taken orally, the effects appear after 30-45 minutes. The effects of MDMA endure between 3 and 6 hours. It can cause a considerable increase in heart rate and blood pressure, as well as a sensation of alertness similar to amphetamine usage. MDMA’s stimulant effects can cause dehydration, hypertension, and heart or renal failure. Confusion, sadness, sleep problems, drug seeking, acute anxiety, and paranoia are some of the psychological effects of MDMA, which can last for weeks. Muscle tension, reflexive teeth clenching, nausea, blurred vision, fast eye movement, faintness, and chills or sweating are some of the physical signs of ecstasy.
In excessive amounts, MDMA can be exceedingly harmful. It can induce a significant increase in body temperature (malignant hyperthermia), which can lead to muscle breakdown and renal and cardiovascular system failure, as seen in certain fatal rave cases. In certain users, MDMA consumption can result in heart attacks, strokes, and seizures. An overdose has the following features and warning signs:
- Feeling hot or unwell
- Becoming confused, not able to talk properly
- Headache
- Vomiting
- Not Sweating
- Racing heart or pulse when resting
- Fainting or collapsing
- Loss of control over body movements
- Tremors
- Problems urinating
- High blood pressure
- Muscle cramping
- Seizures
- Panic attacks
- Loss of consciousness
- Permanent damage to brain
- Death
Cocaine
The symptoms of a cocaine overdose are severe and usually brief. People do die from cocaine overdoses, which are unusual. The exact quantity of cocaine required to produce an overdose varies from person to person and is determined by a number of factors such as the victim’s weight, metabolism, and overall health. Cocaine is frequently ‘cut,’ which means it has been diluted with another drug such as baby powder or lactose. Because the purity of cocaine is difficult to detect, this raises the danger of overdose. A cocaine overdose can result in a significant rise in blood pressure, which can lead to bleeding in the brain and an increased risk of stroke. A cocaine overdose can also result in cardiac and breathing issues, which can lead to death.
Paraphernalia
To utilize medications effectively, several instruments are sometimes necessary. There may be materials or goods on sites where guards operate that can be used as tools, since they can occasionally poison or damage the guard while handling this sort of evidence, or perhaps cause harm to another person who comes across it. Guards should use vigilance while performing surveillance of specific goods on sites, such as needles, metal pipes, heavy-duty lighters, and tin foil, because these materials are frequently utilized by addicts to deepen their addiction.
Treatment Information
If you are with someone who is overdosing on drugs or alcohol and they begin to have a poor trip or feel worried, frightened, or panicked, remove them from the lights and commotion and sit with them in a calmer spot. Talk to them, reassure them, and support them. Send a buddy to obtain aid if things are getting out of hand. In the event of an overdose, First Aid treatment is required. Take the following steps:
- Request paramedics.
- Please contact your supervisor for assistance.
- Ensure that the space surrounding the victim is free of people and has appropriate ventilation.
- Attempt to discover what drug(s) the victim has ingested, as well as when and in what quantity. Speak with any friends or family members that may be present.
- Determine whether they have any existing medical issues or drug allergies.
- Attempt to get in touch with their next of kin or direct family.
As needed, provide First Aid/CPR. Attempt to keep them stable until paramedics come. As needed, assist the paramedics upon their arrival.
