Even after administering this medication, it is crucial to take anyone experiencing an opioid overdose to the emergency room. The rate of deaths from drug overdose has increased steadily over the past couple of decades. Also commonly known as an OD, an overdose occurs when someone ingests a larger dose of a drug than the body can handle. Overdoses often happen accidentally, even when someone takes a drug as prescribed.
Overdose (OD) happens when a toxic amount of a drug, or combination of drugs overwhelms the body.
Intentional overdoses are suicide attempts through the overuse of a substance to not wake up, which also is a medical emergency that requires immediate care to reduce the chance of long-term harm or death. Overdosing on a stimulant such as cocaine increases heart rate, temperature, and blood pressure. This type of overdose can cause heart attacks, strokes, and seizures. You should seek medical help immediately if you have these symptoms or witness them in someone else and suspect they may have overdosed.
- Overdoses of drugs or chemicals can be either accidental or intentional.
- Two examples are carbon monoxide poisoning and mushroom poisoning.
- While the overdose symptoms of crystal meth are similar to those of other drugs, meth-related overdose victims perspire excessively.
- Sedatives are designed to be short-term solutions due to the serious risk of dependence that can form when consumed for too long.
Using substances without others present increases the risk of an overdose becoming fatal. Often, emergency services are not the first people on the scene of an overdose. Increasingly, bystanders, many of whom also use drugs, are administering naloxone to reverse opioid overdoses.
Drug Overdose Signs and Treatment
Risk factors for drug overdose are those that would make someone more likely to abuse drugs, or more likely to accidentally take the incorrect medication or take the wrong dose of a medication. Generally, in an overdose, the effects of the drug may be a heightened level of the therapeutic effects seen with regular use. In overdose, side effects become more pronounced, and other effects can take place, which would not occur with normal use. Large overdoses of some medications cause only minimal effects, while smaller overdoses of other medications can cause severe effects, possibly death. A single dose of some medications can be lethal to a young child.
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Some substances like opioids are more likely to result in fatal overdoses. People who take many substances at the same time (including mixing drugs and alcohol) have a higher chance of overdosing. 3 If you or someone with you is overdosing, call 911 immediately and check our guide on what to do next. An overdose is the common term used when someone has taken too much of a substance or a mix of substances. If you suspect someone has overdosed, contact the emergency services immediately. Depending on the type of substance abuse and the amount taken, an overdose can be fatal.
Illicit Drug Overdose
An overdose isn’t always fatal, but even nonlethal overdoses can lead to serious outcomes, including heart attack and other complications. Countless others — including 181,806 who experienced nonfatal opioid overdoses in 2021 — were lucky enough to survive. A rundown on what the term “overdose” means, what causes it and what to do if you suspect someone has overdosed may help you save a life. If you suspect you or someone you know is having an overdose, then you should contact medical professionals immediately.
Last year, rates of fatal overdose rose 20% in one year, with the majority of fatal overdoses involving an opioid like heroin, prescription painkillers, or the synthetic opioid fentanyl. Many drugs involved in overdose are obtained illegally, particularly in the case of heroin, cocaine, and amphetamines. Other drugs, however, such as benzodiazepines, antidepressants, and opioid pain relievers, are legally available through prescription. Overprescribing by physicians, however, also plays a role in enabling patients to obtain quantities sufficient to result in overdose. To prevent an overdose, follow a doctor’s directions for all prescription medications.
Opioid overdose
You should also not mix alcohol with prescription drugs without checking with your doctor first. The FHE Health team is committed to providing accurate information that adheres to the highest standards of writing. This is part of our ongoing commitment to ensure FHE Health is trusted as a leader in mental health and addiction care. The first step to take if someone you know has overdosed is to seek immediate medical attention. If you find your loved one unresponsive or in medical distress, immediately call 911 and let the dispatcher know you suspect the possibility of drugs. Provide as many details as you can and follow the operator’s instructions while waiting for EMTs to arrive.
- Nationally, 2014 saw a record number of overdose-related deaths, with three out of five resulting from opioid intoxication.
- A person experiencing an opiate overdose usually will not wake up, even if their name is called or they are shaken vigorously.
- The severity of a drug overdose depends on the drug, the amount taken, and the physical and medical history of the person who overdosed.
- In 2016, for example, around 66% of all fatal drug overdoses were related to opioids.
While people have been “found dead with a needle in their arm,” more often there is time to intervene between when an overdose starts and before a victim dies. Anyone noticing these or other symptoms should contact emergency services or seek immediate medical treatment. A doctor can help recognize the signs of drug overdose and provide treatment recommendations. The healthcare provider may be able to use an antidote for certain drug overdoses. For example, the drug naloxone can help reverse the effects of a heroin overdose.
Treatment will be dictated by the specific drug taken in the overdose. Information provided about amount, time, and underlying medical problems will be very helpful. This article will explain what an overdose is, the signs and symptoms of overdose to watch for in yourself and others, and what to do in case of an overdose. Sedative-specific medications are used to sedate the body to reduce stress and assist with sleep and are often quite powerful in their effect. Generally, these medications are most often seen in the benzodiazepines class (Xanax, Valium, Klonopin) and less commonly among barbiturates (phenobarbital).
A drug overdose may occur when an individual consumes too much of a substance. Opioids, stimulants, and other substances can all cause an overdose. If you misuse drugs, quitting is the best way for you to prevent a drug overdose.
Reach out for help for yourself or a loved one by contacting FHE Health now. If you drug overdose meaning suspect you may have taken enough drugs to overdose, call for help immediately. If someone you trust is with you and they’re sober, ask them to call 911.
Higher blood alcohol content (BAC) may even cause the individual to black out. While the overdose symptoms of crystal meth are similar to those of other drugs, meth-related overdose victims perspire excessively. The use of benzodiazepines, such as Xanax and Valium, has risen during the past decade, but so have the deaths.
Opioids make an overdose more likely because of how they function. They activate receptors in the brain and other areas of the body, which causes body functions to slow. As more opioids enter the system, more receptors are activated and become blocked. Eventually, the brain is no longer able to do its basic job of ensuring regular breathing, and the person may stop breathing altogether. Symptoms of an overdose can occur rapidly, but sometimes people can experience a delay in symptoms.