Are NG tubes used for pumping the stomach of drug overdose clients?

NG tubes, or nasogastric tubes, are primarily used for feeding, administering medications, and draining stomach contents, but their use in cases of drug overdose is not standard practice for every patient or scenario. Generally, when someone has experienced a drug overdose, the treatment might involve other medical interventions, such as supportive care or the use of antidotes, rather than immediately using an NG tube.

There are cases where an NG tube could be utilized, but this would occur only under specific circumstances and typically only if a healthcare provider prescribes it for that purpose. This means that while NG tubes can be an option in certain drug overdose cases, they are not universally applied as a method to "pump the stomach," as this would depend on individual medical assessments.

In emergency care or severe overdose scenarios, alternatives such as activated charcoal may be considered to prevent drug absorption in the gastrointestinal tract, making NG tube usage less common in such immediate care situations. Therefore, stating that NG tubes are not generally used for pumping the stomach of drug overdose clients aligns with the clinical protocols and practices in emergency medicine.