CENTCOM POLICY USE OF DIAZEPAM

File: 970616_sep96_decls1_0002.txt
Page: 0002
Total Pages: 3
Subject = CENTCOM POLICY USE OF DIAZEPAM                                  

Parent Organization = ARCENT      

Unit = XVIII CORPS 

Folder Title = NBC AAR                                                                                         

Document Number =        108

Box ID = BX000088










                                  UNCLAS




   BT
   UNCLAS
   SUBJ: USCENTCOM POLICY ON U.S. FORCES USE OF DIAZEPAM
   i.  MESSAGE USCINCCENT 151355Z OCT 90 IS RETRANSMITTED AS FOLLOWS:
   @?UOTE"
      DIAZEPAM, sqON TO BE FIELDED AS CANA (CONVULSANT ANTIDOTE FOR
   @-ERVE AGENT), IS CRITICAL IN PREVENTING OR REDUCING CONVULSIONS AND
   RESULTANT BRAIN DAMAGE IN NERVE AGENT CAUSUALTIES. HOWEVER, THERE IS
   JUSTIFIABLE CONCERN THAT DIAZEPAM (ALSO KNOWN AS VALIUM) HAS THE
   POTENTIAL FOR ABUSE.
   2. . DIAZEPAM MUST BE ISSUED TO THE INDIVIDUAL, AND READILY AVAILABLE
   4FIEN NEEDED OR IT WILL BE OF LITTLE USE IN PREVENTING PERMANENT BRAIN
   DAMAGE. THE BENEFITS OF INDIVIDUAL ISSUE FAR OUTWEIGH THE RISKS.
   ri(E SIDE EFFECTS FROM ADMINISTERING CANA WITHOUT BEING EXPOSED TO
   IERVE AGENT ARE MINIMAL (IMPAIRED VISUAL TRACKING AND
   DECISION MAKING ABILITY FOR TWO TO FIVE HOURS). THERE IS NO RISK OF




   ?AGE 02 RUDCHAA0016 UNCLAS
   PROLONGED INCAPACITION OR ADDICTION WITH A SINGLE UNAUTHORIZED
   IN
   .IWTION.
   3   SINCE CANA CONTAINS A CONTROLLED SUBSTANCE, ABLES IT NOWHERE IN
   rfle SAME CATEGORY AS A NARCOTIC, COMPONENT COMMANDERS WILL ENSURE
   NCCOUNTABILITY FOR IT WHEN ISSUED. THIS WILL BE ACCOMPLISHED THROUGH
   LOG BOOKS OR FORMS SIMILAR TO THOSE USED TO ISSUE WEAPONS OR
   )RGANIZATIONAL CLOTHING AND EQUIPMENT. FURTHERMORE, INDIVIDUALS
   IUST ATTEND A CLASS FOR ADMINISTERING FIRST AID TO A NERVE AGENT
   'ASUALTY BEFORE BEING ISSUED THE CANA.
   4.  TFIE INSTRUCTION WILI, BE AN UPDATE OF THE BASIC FIRST-AID FOR A
   QERVE AGENT CASUALTY THAT WILL INCORPORATE CANA INTO THE PROCEDURES
   ?OR BUDDY-AID. WIIEN AN INDIVIDUAL IIAS BEEN EXPOSED TO SUFFICIENT
   4ERVE AGENT SO THAT HE CAN NO LONGER HELP HIMSELF, HE REQUIRES BUDDY
   NID. SEVERE NERVE AGENT CASUALTIES WIIO CANNOT INJECT
   THEMSELVES ARE GIVEN TIIEIR THREE ANTIDOTE SETS (ATROPINE AND 2 PAM
   -IHLORIDE) IN RAPID SUCCESSION BY A BUDDY. WHEN A CASUALTY'S THIRD
   3ET IS ADMINISTERED BY HIS BUDDY, THE BUDDY WILL THEN ADMINISTER THE
   'ANA.
   5. THE CLASS WILL ALSO EMPHASIZE THE INDIVIDUALS' RESPONSIBILITY TO
   'AFEGUARD THEIR CANA AUTO INJECTOR. THE INSTRUCTION WILL STRESS THE




   'AGE 03 RUDCHAA0016 UNCLAS
   PACT THAT THEIR CANA IS THERE TO BE ADMINISTERED TO THEM, BY A BUDDY,
   @O PREVENT SERIOUS BRAIN DAMAGE AND CONVULSIONS ASSOCIATED WITH NERVE
   kG  POISONING. SHOULD THEY BE NEGLIGENT, AND ALLOW THEIR CANA TO
   3EW10LEN OR USED tlll'IIOUT NERVE AGENT EXPOSURE, THEN IT SIMPLY WILL
   JOT BE AVAILABLE WHEN THEY REALLY NEED IT. THE RESPONSIBILITY IS




                                 TINCLAC,