Drug overdose Description, Illegal Drugs, Prescription Drugs, Risk Factors, Symptoms, & Treatment

Heroin overdoses happen when users take more of the drug than they can handle. The smugglers risk intoxication if the heroin packets rupture in their GI tracts. The most commonly abused classes of prescription drugs are opioids, stimulants and depressants. Cannabis developed today is strikingly different than what older generations experienced, with significant increases in potency now found in most of today’s cannabis supply. With that increased potency are more examples of cannabis toxicity, or cannabis overdose symptoms, being seen in hospital settings.

• If you or someone you know has a substance use disorder, it is imperative that you understand what overdose is and how to recognize the symptoms of one so you can prevent any further harm and potentially save a life.
• That the DEA seized 22 million pills does not mean that it reduced 22 million people’s consumption of fentanyl pills, Caulkins said.
• Older adults are at high risk of having an adverse drug reaction for several reasons (see Aging and Medications).
• Good Samaritan laws and similar legal protections exist across states to ensure you will not get into trouble for helping someone experiencing an overdose.

While the consumption of drugs and alcohol can alter bodily functions, the body typically continues to maintain its basic life functions. However, during an overdose, critical bodily functions, such as breathing, consciousness, and temperature regulation, may cease to function or operate in a manner that poses immediate danger to health. Alcohol overdose is generally referred to as alcohol poisoning in the medical community. This event occurs when alcohol in the bloodstream grows to very high levels. Typically, anything above .16% (that is, .16% of your blood containing alcohol) results in serious symptoms like loss of consciousness, blackouts, and impairment of cognitive functioning. When .30% is reached, this is often where loss of life is a serious risk as the body is completely unable to function.

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. Symptoms of a drug overdose may include breathing difficulties, changes in heart rate or body temperature, seizure, stroke, and more. To prevent drug overdose from prescription medications, only take the prescribed dose.

Managing healthcare

Starting with the lowest potency is easiest if a substance is regulated and labeled such that consumers can understand its contents. If this information is available, individuals who decide to start using a substance or people returning to use after a period of abstinence should start using the least potent products. Titrating doses drug overdose meaning can also help prevent unintentional overdose if the substance may contain adulterants (e.g., heroin that may be contaminated with fentanyl). People who are breastfeeding should consult with a health care professional before they take any medications. Hereditary factors make some people more susceptible to the toxic effects of certain medications. Various genes have been identified that affect how the body responds to medications.

What Is the Medical Treatment for a Drug Overdose?

They may experience nerve damage and reduction in the ability to use their limbs. Even if someone recovers from a drug overdose, there can still be long term effects that may affect them for the rest of their lives. For example, the drug naloxone (Narcan) can help to reverse the effects of a opioid overdose. The accumulation will spread throughout the body and will lead to an alcohol overdose, which is also known as alcohol poisoning. Some of the typical symptoms of alcohol poisoning include vomiting, mental confusion, seizures, slow breathing, hypothermia and pale or blueish skin. It’s not always easy to discern the symptoms of a drug overdose and many people may not realize that are experiencing an overdose when it happens.

Another method for decreasing overdose risk is drug checking or testing substances for adulterants. Laws that limit access to harm reduction programs or criminalize these tools can discourage their use. An emergency-medicine specialist in a hospital’s emergency department treats a drug overdose. If a child overdoses, depending on the circumstances, Child Protective Services personnel may be involved.

Treatment for an Overdose

Seek immediate medical help by calling 911 or taking them to an emergency unit. If you aren’t sure if someone is overdosing, it’s best to act as if they are by seeking emergency help. The DEA says that as little as 2 milligrams of fentanyl can be deadly for an adult.

Why Do People Overdose on Drugs or Alcohol?

• Stimulants generally have a quick onset once they are consumed, and the effects usually wear off quickly as well.
• Providing supportive care, administering medication such as naloxone, and calling 911 can all help treat certain types of drug overdose.
• Paracetamol is also commonly taken by people who intend to harm themselves (suicide attempts).
• Countless others — including 181,806 who experienced nonfatal opioid overdoses in 2021 — were lucky enough to survive.

Overdose – what to do in an emergency has detailed information about dialling triple zero (000) for a drug overdose, and what will happen in the emergency department. The Alcohol and Drug Foundation has more information about different types of drugs, their effects and risk factors. Symptoms of an overdose can occur rapidly, but sometimes people can experience a delay in symptoms. The FHE Health team is committed to providing accurate information that adheres to the highest standards of writing.

Overdoses of drugs or chemicals can be either accidental or intentional. Drug overdoses occur when a person takes more than the medically recommended dose of a prescription or over-the-counter drug. However, some people may be more sensitive to certain medications so that the high end of the therapeutic range of a drug may be toxic for them. Mild nonserious adverse drug reactions do not necessarily mean that people must stop taking a medication, especially if no suitable alternative is available. However, doctors are likely to reevaluate the dose, frequency of use (number of doses a day), and timing of doses (for example, before or after meals; in the morning or at bedtime). Other medications may be used to control the adverse drug reaction (for example, a stool softener to relieve constipation).

Alcohol

The cause of a drug overdose is either by accidental overuse or by intentional misuse. Accidental overdoses result from either a young child or an adult with impaired mental abilities swallowing a medication left within their grasp. An adult (especially elderly persons or people taking many medications) can mistakenly ingest the incorrect medication or take the wrong dose of a medication. Purposeful overdoses are for a desired effect, either to get high or to harm oneself. An overdose occurs when an individual takes more than the recommended amount of a drug or alcohol.

Substance-Specific Signs

There were two funding announcements made available in 2023 for city, county, state, and territorial health departments known as the Overdose Data to Action (OD2A) cooperative agreements. Activated charcoal may be used to absorb the drug in the digestive tract, while gastric lavage (stomach pumping) and the administration of intravenous fluids may be used to rapidly eliminate or dilute the drug. Substances to combat the actions of the drug may be administered, such as naloxone in the case of opioid overdose or n-acetylcysteine for acetaminophen overdose. Mechanical ventilation or oxygen therapy may be used for individuals who experience difficulty breathing.

Even substances that we consume every day, like caffeine, can cause an overdose, although it usually requires so much that it is unlikely to occur. For the purposes of keeping to substances that are more likely to cause an overdose, those generally fall within the categories of alcohol, opioids, sedatives, stimulants, cannabis, and synthetic/designer drugs. Evidence-based prevention interventions are informed by research, practice, and indigenous knowledge. Dissemination can be strengthened by partnerships and can be tailored and scaled up to meet local circumstances. Treatment for drug overdose varies but often involves the use of activated charcoal, gastric lavage, and intravenous fluids.

Though not as common as the other substances on this list, it is still something to be aware of to ensure proper care is provided as needed. Depending on the type of substance, there are many different symptoms of an overdose. Additionally, there are many other factors that can impact how and when an overdose can occur. Here are some of the most important factors and symptoms to be aware of, as they often require emergency medical intervention. It is important that more is done to prevent overdoses and deaths.

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