Staffers told officers they believed the woman may have injected what was left in the syringes into her own IV.
After finding used needle heads — some which were labeled for other patients — in her room, nurses administered a blood test. The patient tested positive for medication not prescribed to her.
As of Tuesday afternoon, no charges were filed against the patient.
The incident is a unique instance of someone possibly seeking a drug fix, said Charles Patterson, health commissioner of the Clark County Combined Health District.
“We’ve heard of people sharing needles before, but we’ve never heard of someone recycling needles trying to get any kind of drugs out of the needles after it was used,” he said.
A few droplets remain in syringes after they are used. Most would have to be taken apart to use the medicine within, said Sandy Miller, nursing supervisor for the combined health district.
Such use poses health risks in terms of unknown drug interactions and blood-borne pathogens, Patterson said.
“Specifically, Hepatitis B, for instanc,e will stay around for quite some time,” he said. “You’ve got some fairly significant health risks that a person who would be doing this is taking.”
Patterson warned people to be observant before using a sharps container and to contact building administrators, police or the health department if they see something suspicious.
Hospital spokesman Dave Lamb said the syringes were taken only from one sharps container in the patient’s room. Not every room has one, which is why other patient’s syringes may have been inside. He added that the hospital is following protocols for disposing of sharps.
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