ULTIMATE SUBSTANCE USE, PSYCH PHARMACOLOGY &
CLINICAL TRIAGE GUIDE
A High-Yield Clinical Reference & Board Exam Study Guide
Welcome & Guide Overview
This comprehensive reference guide is designed for nursing, medical, and psychiatric technician
students. It bridges the gap between dense pharmacology textbooks and real-world clinical
practice. The information is structured into high-yield, scannable matrices to save you study time
and maximize your confidence during rotations, exams, and clinical practice.
Table of Contents
Introduction and Table of Contents …………………………………………………………….1-2
C-SSRS ………………………………………………………………………………………….. 3
SAFE-T ……………………………………………………………………………………….…. 4
Step 5 of SAFE-T: Building a Suicide Safety Plan ……………………………………………... 5
CIWA ……………………………………………………………………………………………. 6
COWS …………………………………………………………………………………………… 7
Common Psychiatric Meds Reference Sheet ……………………………………………………. 8
Chasing the High: Commonly sought physical and psychological effects of illicit drugs ……… 9
Cocaine ………………………………………………………………………………………… 10
Methamphetamines …………………………………………………………………………….. 11
Amphetamines …………………………………………………………………………………. 12
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,MDMA (Ecstacy/Molly) ………………………………………………………………….….… 13
Marijuana ………………………………………………………………………………….…… 14
Alcohol …………………………………………………………………………………….…… 15
Delirium Tremens ……………………………………………………………………………… 16
Benzodiazepines ……………………………………………………………………………….. 17
Barbiturates …………………………………………………………………………………….. 18
Buprenorphine ………………………………………………………………………………….. 19
Fentanyl ………………………………………………………………………………………… 20
Methamphetamines …………………………………………………………………………….. 21
Opiates …………………………………………………………………………………………. 22
Oxycodone ……………………………………………………………………………………... 23
PCP …………………………………………………………………………………………..… 24
TCAs …………………………………………………………………………………………… 25
Buprenorphine dosing …………………………………………………………………………. 26
2
, Mental Health Stabilization and Screening Tools
C-SSRS (Columbia-Suicide Severity Rating Scale):
What it is: A standardized suicide risk screening instrument designed to assess both suicidal
ideation (thoughts) and suicidal behavior (actions).
How it works: It uses plain-language "yes" or "no" questions. The standard "screener" version
relies on a minimum of 2 and a maximum of 6 questions depending on what the patient endorses:
1. Wish to be dead
2. Non-specific suicidal thoughts
3. Thoughts of method (without plan/intent)
4. Active suicidal intent (without a specific plan)
5. Intent with a specific plan
6. Suicidal behavior (asks if they have ever prepared or attempted suicide, or had an
interrupted/aborted attempt).
Clinical Purpose: It measures the severity and immediacy of risk to help clinicians safely triage
care without over-referring individuals.
3
CLINICAL TRIAGE GUIDE
A High-Yield Clinical Reference & Board Exam Study Guide
Welcome & Guide Overview
This comprehensive reference guide is designed for nursing, medical, and psychiatric technician
students. It bridges the gap between dense pharmacology textbooks and real-world clinical
practice. The information is structured into high-yield, scannable matrices to save you study time
and maximize your confidence during rotations, exams, and clinical practice.
Table of Contents
Introduction and Table of Contents …………………………………………………………….1-2
C-SSRS ………………………………………………………………………………………….. 3
SAFE-T ……………………………………………………………………………………….…. 4
Step 5 of SAFE-T: Building a Suicide Safety Plan ……………………………………………... 5
CIWA ……………………………………………………………………………………………. 6
COWS …………………………………………………………………………………………… 7
Common Psychiatric Meds Reference Sheet ……………………………………………………. 8
Chasing the High: Commonly sought physical and psychological effects of illicit drugs ……… 9
Cocaine ………………………………………………………………………………………… 10
Methamphetamines …………………………………………………………………………….. 11
Amphetamines …………………………………………………………………………………. 12
1
,MDMA (Ecstacy/Molly) ………………………………………………………………….….… 13
Marijuana ………………………………………………………………………………….…… 14
Alcohol …………………………………………………………………………………….…… 15
Delirium Tremens ……………………………………………………………………………… 16
Benzodiazepines ……………………………………………………………………………….. 17
Barbiturates …………………………………………………………………………………….. 18
Buprenorphine ………………………………………………………………………………….. 19
Fentanyl ………………………………………………………………………………………… 20
Methamphetamines …………………………………………………………………………….. 21
Opiates …………………………………………………………………………………………. 22
Oxycodone ……………………………………………………………………………………... 23
PCP …………………………………………………………………………………………..… 24
TCAs …………………………………………………………………………………………… 25
Buprenorphine dosing …………………………………………………………………………. 26
2
, Mental Health Stabilization and Screening Tools
C-SSRS (Columbia-Suicide Severity Rating Scale):
What it is: A standardized suicide risk screening instrument designed to assess both suicidal
ideation (thoughts) and suicidal behavior (actions).
How it works: It uses plain-language "yes" or "no" questions. The standard "screener" version
relies on a minimum of 2 and a maximum of 6 questions depending on what the patient endorses:
1. Wish to be dead
2. Non-specific suicidal thoughts
3. Thoughts of method (without plan/intent)
4. Active suicidal intent (without a specific plan)
5. Intent with a specific plan
6. Suicidal behavior (asks if they have ever prepared or attempted suicide, or had an
interrupted/aborted attempt).
Clinical Purpose: It measures the severity and immediacy of risk to help clinicians safely triage
care without over-referring individuals.
3
