A 25-year-old patient is brought to the hospital by police after crashing his car in a high-speed chase when trying to avoid arrest for spousal abuse.What should the nurse do?

A) Question the patient about drug use.
B) Offer the patient a cup of coffee to calm his nerves.
C) Be aware that substance abuse is usually obvious.
D) Deal with the issue at hand,and put off asking about previous illnesses.

Reports of arrests because of driving while intoxicated,wife or child abuse,or disorderly conduct are reasons for the nurse to investigate the possibility of drug abuse more carefully.Caffeine is a legal drug,naturally occurring in coffee,that stimulates the central nervous system and is not the choice for calming nerves.Substance abuse is not always diagnosable,particularly in its early stages.The nurse may obtain important information by making specific inquiries about past medical problems,changes in food intake or sleep patterns,and problems of emotional lability.