If a potentially violent situation continues to escalate, oral medication should be offered to the patient. If the person does not agree to take the medication, or if oral administration is inappropriate, then it may be administered parenterally.This typically involves administration of eitherbenzodiazepine or antipsychotic via intramuscular injection (NICE, 2005). However, the healthprofessional should first draw on de-escalation skills to reason with a person on why they should
take the oral medication. If the person refuses and an intramuscular injection is required, verbal skills will be required. As a last resort, the health professional may need to employ physical interventions if the person continues to be aggressive and put themselves and others at risk.