USCENTCOM POLICY ON U.S. FORCES USE OF DIAZEPAM

File: 011696_43_17_002.txt
Page: 002
Total Pages: 3

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ROUTINE RUDCHAA COMUSARCENT MAIN//AFRD-DTO//

RHILHAJ/CDRIIICORPS FT HOOD TX//AFZF-OML//
RUEOHNA/CDRXVIIIABIqCORPS FT BRABB NC//B3-0/64e/
RHIPAAA/USCINCCENT
RHCGSRB/CINCFOR FT MCPHERSON GA//FCJ3/FCJ4//
RUDCHAA/COMUSARCENT MAIN//AFRD-DTO//
RHCOSRB/USARCENT REAR FT MCPHERSON GA//
r@T
UNCLAS
SUBJ: USCENTCOM POLICY ON U.S. FORCES USE OF DIAZEPAM
1. MESSAGE USCINCCENT 151355Z OCT 90 IS RETRANSMITTED AS FOLLOWS:
O.UDTE"
1. DIAZEPAM, SOON TO BE FIELDED AS CANA (CONVULBANT ANTIDOTE FOR
NERVE 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
WHEN NEEDED OR IT WILL BE OF LITTLE USE IN PREVENTING PERMANENT BRAIN
DAMAGE. THE BENEFITS OF INDIVIDUAL ISSUE FAR OUTWEIGH THE RISKS.
THE SIDE EFFECTS FROM ADMINISTERING CANA WITHOUT BEING EXPOSED TO
NERVE AGENT ARE MINIMAL (IMPAIRED VISUAL TRACKING AND
DECISION MAKING ABILITY FOR TWO TO FIVE HOURS). THERE IS NO RISK OF

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PROLONGED INCAPACITION OR ADDICTION WITH A SINGLE UNAUTHORIZED
INJECTION.
:7.. SINCE CANA CONTAINS A CONTROLLED SUBSTANCE, ABLES IT NOWHERE IN
THE SAME CATEGORY AS A NARCOTIC, COMPONENT COMMANDERS WILL ENSURE
ACCOUNTABILITY FOR IT WHEN ISSUED. THIS WILL BE ACCOMPLISHED THROUGH
LOS BOOKS OR FORMS SIMILAR TO THOSE USED TO ISSUE WEAPONS OR
ORGANIZATIONAL CLOTHINS AND EQUIPMENI'. FURTHERMORE, INDIVIDUALS
NISTERING FIRST AID TO A NERVE AGENT
CASUALTY BEFORE BEING ISSUED THE CANA.
4. THE INSTRUCTION WILL BE AN UPDATE OF THE BASIC FIRST-AID FOR A
NERVE AGENT CASUALTY THAT WILL INCORPORATE CANA INTO THE PROCEDURES
FOR BUDDY-AID. WHEN AN INDIVIDUAL HAS BEEN EXPOSED TO SUFFICIENT
NERVE AGENT SO THAT HE CAN NO LONGER HELP HIMSELF, HE REMUIRES BUDDY
AID. SEVERE NERVE AGENT CASUALTIES WHO CANNOT INJECT
THEMSELVES ARE GIVEN THEIR THREE ANTIDOTE SETS (ATROPINE AND 2 PAM
CHLORIDE) IN RAPID SUCCESSION BY A BUDDY. WHEN A CASUALTY'S THIRD
SET IS ADMINISTERED BY HIS BUDDY, THE BUDDY WILL THEN ADMINISTER THE
CANA.
5. THE CLASS WILL ALSO EMPHASIZE THE INDIVIDUALS' RESPONSIBILITY TO

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Box ID = BX000000
Unit = G3 NBC SECTION
Parent Organization = ARCENT
Folder Title = CANA
Subject = USCENTCOM POLICY ON U.S. FORCES USE OF DIAZEPAM
Document Number = 43
Image file name = 00000040.tif