Our 'Special K' patient

Went to a call yesterday, 20 something male with the all to common "abdo pain" as the call header on the CAD. Pulled up outfront of a palatial estate with 3 luxury vehicles(sympathy deminishing) out front, he was waiting in ernest for his taxi it seemed. I got out and pointed to the ambulance side door, he walked in hunched over grabbing at this mid section. Once inside the theatrics began, writhing in pain, moans and groans, flailing arms and feet. "so much pain..so much pain!!" between heavy gasps for air. I managed to settle him down, get a set of vitals(blood pressure, heart rate, SpO2, resp rate and GCS) and put a name and DOB on my paper form that I had to hand to hand into admitting once we got to hospital.  We were only minutes from the hospital so I didn't get the full story.."so much pain" over and over was all I had to go on for a report to the triage nurse.
Anyways it turns out that this guy has a habit of putting straws in his urethra(where the pee comes from for those not anatomy savy) in order to produce a positive blood sample so that he can get pain medications. He is addicted to Ketamine which is used as a animal tranquilizer, and or anaesthesia. Why are people so fucked up to get themselves addicted to such drugs!
Ahh well, rode my mountain bike in the last 2 days to work, pissy weather, but nonetheless I feel validated that I'm getting a little exercise. Signed up for a 50km trail ultra in early March, it is one that I havn't done for 8 years so I'm looking forward to getting back to do it. I guess I should be running into work instead of riding..tomorrow.