** West Virginia medics seeing increase in violent attacks from overdose patients
UNITED STATES NEWS
** An increase in the number of patient attacks on West Virginia medics is being blamed on
synthetic drug use. That is the word from WSAZ (Dan Griffin/September 17) which said providers
are being subjected to growing assaults by overdose patients. Amongst the preferred methods of
attack are biting, punching, and hair pulling. Cabell County EMS Director Gordon Merry said his
medics have suffered 4 assaults in the last month. Normal drug tests do not show the presence of
synthetic drugs, but Merry said he believes either flakka or gravel are involved because of both the
level of violence and because the substances have recently been introduced to the region.
As a result of the suspicion, Merry said medics are increasingly ensuring police are present at
overdose calls. He said the problem will likely only get worse since the prime users of synthetic
drugs are individuals subject to random drug tests who are seeking to continue their habit without
detection.
