Quick Sand Sickness

The confused state which many are left in after breathing in the dust like drug 'Quick Sand'. Many remain addicted after they recover from the symptoms, but other do not recover and the sickness is fatal.

Causes

This sickness is the result of the regular inhalation of a mildly poisonous dust-like substance colloquially known as 'quick sand' for its ability to produce a rapid high and its sandy texture. The condition is never contagious, although it sometimes seems as though it might due to the use of quick sand being so wide spread and often being used as a social drug by youths. However, this sickness is not a consequence of a few uses of the drug, but of continued and frequent use, and most often is the stage before addiction and possibly overdose.

Symptoms

The first symptoms of the sickness are easily ignored; drowsiness and lightheadedness, similar to that which comes with simple exhaustion. These symptoms get increasingly worse, and after a short time the subject begins to feel more agitated and restless, easily angered and distracted. They may also feel anxious and, in extreme cases, paranoid to the extent they refuse to leave their comfort zones such as their homes or even beds.

The sickness appears to shut off their survival instincts in some ways, shutting down the body's ability to recognise thirst and hunger, leading the subject to dehydrate and starve themselves. If left unchecked for too long this can lead to death, however this will likely fade away if another dose of the drug is taken, and these effects will, for a time, trouble them no longer. However they will return.

Treatment

There is no real treatment for the sickness beside being weened off the drugs by a healer or carer. The best treatment of to ensure they have no access to the substance which made them sick in the first place and to ensure they are eating and drinking as usual despite having little to no desire to do so. In larger cities especially there are often specific infirmaries set up to treat drug related sicknesses, and many of these are quicksand sickness.

Prognosis

If treated, the patients will likely make a full recovery. Those who do not seek medical treatment but instead ignore the symptoms or seek out more sand to temporarily fix the problems are often not so lucky. Many have wasted away with the sickness, often unnoticed in the beginning of their symptoms.

Epidemiology

The spread of the sickness follows the spread of the drug. In cities where the drug is legal there is a much higher rate of afflicted. However, whether this is because there are more users of the drug or because those suffering the symptoms are more willing to come forward knowing they will not be persecuted for their use of the substance cannot be known.

Type

Chemical Compound