International Emergency Medicine

LAC+USC Department
of Emergency Medicine

HAZARDOUS CHEMICAL DATABASE

UNITED NATIONS INTERNATIONAL DRUG CONTROL PROGRAM

SOCIETY OF TOXICOLOGY

ENVIRONMENTAL AND OCCUPATIONAL TOXICOLOGY DATABASE

AMERICAN COLLEGE OF MEDICAL TOXICOLOGY

BRITISH TOXICOLOGY
SOCIETY

AMERICAN
ASSOCIATION OF POISON
CONTROL CENTERS

TOXNET WEB SEARCH

NATIONAL CLEARINGHOUSE FOR ALCOHOL AND DRUG INFORMATION

Toxicology is often geographically unique. How one culture views certain plants, herbs and other natural resources may be completely different from another cultures view. Traditions, customs, and other social factors are all influential. Fortunately, Los Angeles has attracted a wonderful eclectic mixture of people from all across the globe. These close interactions, especially at our large public teaching hospital, LAC+USC Medical Center, has made toxicology a challenge. Patients are often on medications bought in their native countries, which are not always what they appear to be.

CAVEAT BUYER BEWARE ABSTRACT

Our faculty at LAC+USC are experts in the field of medical toxicology. They are, Ashok Jain MD, ABMT; Maria Rudis Pharm. D., ABAT; William Mallon MD; Kathryn Challoner MD and Margaret McCarran MD, ABMT (past director of the Poison Center) have all had extensive experience as consultants at regional Poison Control Centers and at LAC+USC Medical Center.

Dr Challoner has lectured on Drugs of Abuse, Herbal Toxicity, and Botanical toxins, and continues to give a yearly course on Drug Overdose to emergency medicine residents. She has published articles

extensively on topics ranging from Pentazocine (Talwin) and dapsone intoxications to castor oil ingestions.

Dr. Jain is also trained and boarded in Occupational Medicine, which brings a unique and rare expertise. He often is asked to give his expert opinion on Industrial and Forensic Toxicology cases.

Designer drugs often make their debut in Los Angeles. Our physicians in the emergency department learn to recognize early the multiple toxidromes that may present on any given day, and are versed in the latest management.

Gamma-hydroxy butyrate (GHB) has emerged as a potentially lethal designer drug. (see above photos)

Patients seen on our jail ward often have ingested large numbers of cocaine and heroin balloons. (see above photo)

It is not uncommon to see Betel Nut being routinely sold in many developing countries.

LAC+USC Medical Center Department of Emergency of Medicine Room L 1011
1200 N. State St.
Los Angeles, CA 90033

Ashok Jain M.D. ABMT_{Associate Professor

Department of Emergency Medicine LAC+USC Medical Center}

Kathryn Challoner M.D.
_{Associate Professor Department of Emergency Medicine

LAC+USC Medical Center}

Maria Rudis Ph.D. ABAT_{Assistant Professor

Department of Emergency Medicine LAC+USC Medical Center}

While traveling abroad, we often come into contact with substances with toxicological effects. Betel Nut in the South Pacific, Miraa in East Africa, and Kava in Fiji are some examples of drugs we in the United States are often familiar with. With the world becoming a smaller and more intimate place, knowledge of these substances is becoming more pertinent.

Digitalis is derived from the Foxglove plant, and can be lethal in small doses.

Lethal Amanita mushrooms can easily be mistaken with the less toxic psychedelic "magic mushroom".

The Poison Hemlock plant can easily be mistaken for a non poisonous plant.

The International Emergency Medicine Website was designed by MGB Design. with medical oversight provided by Richard J. Hoffner M.D.
All images on this site are copyrighted and the exclusive property of LAC+USC Medical Center and it's affiliated physicians.

This page was last updated on: Wednesday, May 24, 2000