UK
New cocaine and crack guidelines in primary health care in UK
By Ashwin, UK Correspondent
Dec 1, 2004, 05:44

The Royal College of General Practitioners (RCGP) has developed a guide to help people working in primary care treat cocaine and crack users.

Guidance for working with cocaine and crack users in primary care has been produced in association with Substance Misuse Management in General Practice (SMMGP). It gives GPs and other primary care healthcare professionals an understanding of the different types of users and their usage patterns. The guidelines also outline the different types of treatment options available to drug users.

The booklet offers practical advice to GPs on what to do when a cocaine or crack user visits a doctor�s surgery. It also provides guidance on managing acute medical problems such as breathing difficulties and chest pains, as well as emphasising the importance of offering users hepatitis A and B vaccinations.

In addition, the crack guidelines also provide GPs with a list of slang words used by users such as �rocks�, �stones� and �bones�, and outline practical harm reduction tips that GPs can pass on to patients.

Dr William Ford-Young, RCGP drugs spokesperson, said: �Cocaine and Crack users have been stigmatised within society and the media but they deserve the same care as anyone else. Successful treatment is possible and it usually comes from a positive health professional/patient relationship. We have devised these guidelines to help GPs and primary care workers deliver the highest possible standards of care to cocaine and crack users.�

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