You are assessing a young male patient who was found in an alley by sanitation workers. Assessment reveals the patient to respond to painful stimuli by opening his eyes, but then closes them once you stop pinching the muscles on his neck. His airway is open and his breathing is shallow. His skin is cool and diaphoretic and his pupils are constricted and do not react to light. Based on these assessment findings, the EMT would be suspicious of:

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The patient's response to painful stimuli, constricted pupils that do not react to light, shallow breathing, and cool and diaphoretic skin all suggest a narcotic overdose. The fact that he was found in an alley by sanitation workers also increases suspicion for drug use. While other possibilities such as traumatic assault or methamphetamine overdose cannot be completely ruled out based on these assessment findings alone, narcotic overdose is the most likely cause.

You Are Assessing a Young Male Patient Who Was Found