White Oak Recovery Center is committed to transforming the lives of people struggling with substance use and mental health disorders with researched, fact-based content. All information and content on this website are for informational and educational purposes only. Our content is not a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. It should not be used in place of the advice of a physician or other qualified healthcare providers. People with substance use disorders may have mental health issues that have not been diagnosed.
Encouraging Harm Reduction
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. When an opioid overdose is suspected, naloxone hydrochloride should be administered as soon as possible to reverse the effects of an overdose. Do not leave it up to the person to tell you they are overdosing; they may not know or not be able to communicate it to you. When it comes to drug overdose, being proactive is essential to reversing overdose and preventing death.
- The rate of deaths from drug overdose has increased steadily over the past couple of decades.
- For example, alcohol is absorbed through the proximal gastrointestinal (GI) tract and primarily metabolized in the liver.
- Self-care after treatment plays an important role in overcoming drug overdose.
- The higher the dose or the longer the exposure, the worse the poisoning.
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. In the case of a suicidal intentional drug overdose, you can get help from a crisis or suicide prevention hotline. You can call the hotline after calling the ambulance and they can offer support and guidance. The best way to prevent drug overdose is to reduce exposure to drugs, prevent misuse and treat drug use disorder. For example, the drug naloxone (Narcan) can help to reverse the effects of a opioid overdose.
Why Overdoses Happen
However, if they will not, or cannot, due to an altered level of consciousness, provide this information, a search of the home or questioning of friends and family may be helpful. Programs like Drug Abuse Resistance Education (DARE) educate students about the risks of drug use and provide them with skills to resist peer pressure. People with severe overdoses may require hospitalization and intensive care.
Do You Need to See a Doctor After a Drug Overdose?
This means that the number of intentional overdoses could be higher than what is currently reported. Major support for overcoming drug overdose and addiction comes from therapy sessions. Therapy is integrated into inpatient and outpatient treatment programs. The exact type of therapy varies, but in most cases, patients receive cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT), individual counseling, group counseling, and medication-assisted treatment (MAT). Possible treatments for drug overdose depend on the drug taken, the dosage, when and how the drug was taken, whether it was consumed with other substances, and the effect on the person. As soon as symptoms of overdose appear, it is necessary to get urgent medical assistance, administer naloxone (if there are some), and stay with an affected individual until help arrives.
However, there is definitely a risk of long term effects which increases with every overdose. Signs and symptoms of an overdose vary depending on the drug, its ingredients, the amount consumed, and exposure to toxins. This can help one determine what class of drug or toxin is causing the difficulties. The term ‘overdose’ is often misused as a descriptor for adverse drug reactions or negative drug interactions due to mixing multiple drugs simultaneously. Overdoses can be accidental or intentional, but regardless, getting help quickly is crucial.
The overdose crisis is an evolving public health crisis; as such, FDA continues to evaluate our approach and make adjustments according to the latest available science and data. Discover fact sheets, guides, data sets, and other resources to support overdose prevention work. If you live with someone who you suspect may be at risk for an opioid drug overdose, you can keep Narcan in your home so you will be ready to administer it if needed. If the overdose is caused by a stimulant, Narcan won’t do anything. However, it won’t hurt – so if you are in doubt it’s worth using it just in case. If you witness someone with these symptoms, it is important to seek medical help immediately.
🠔 Substance Use Disorder
Sedatives include benzodiazepines like Xanax, Ativan, and Klonopin, and barbiturates like phenobarbital. For certain drug types, some symptoms are drug overdose: definition, treatment, prevention, and more less prominent, and in some cases, not all symptoms apply. For example, withdrawal symptoms are not specified for inhalant use.
A drug overdose happens when too much of a substance is taken, overwhelming your body. This can be prescription meds, over-the-counter drugs, or illegal substances. In a 2020 study, 75% of overdose deaths involved a prescription or illicit opioid, including 62% that involved a synthetic opioid other than methadone, such as fentanyl. It is important that more is done to prevent overdoses and deaths. Prevention activities help educate and support individuals, families, and communities and are critical for maintaining both individual and community health.
By combining immediate medical interventions with long-term treatment strategies, healthcare providers can effectively manage drug overdoses and support patients in their recovery journey. Drug overdose is when a person ingests more the recommended, safe, or typical dose of a prescription medication, recreational drug, or illicit substance. It may happen accidentally or intentionally; both are emergencies. It can be difficult to determine if someone is overdosing, but erring on the side of caution can save a life. An overdose (OD), or drug overdose, is when someone accidentally or intentionally consumes more than a safe or typical amount of a substance such as a prescription medication or drug. Knowing the signs and symptoms of an overdose and what to do if you think you or someone else may be overdosing is life-saving information.
According to the National Harm Reduction Coalition, ingesting too much of one or multiple drugs can harm the body. If you use prescription drugs, be sure to use them only as directed by your doctor. Do not combine any medications without first asking your doctor if it’s safe.
- The cause of a drug overdose is either by accidental overuse or by intentional misuse.
- Chronological information about significant FDA activities related to substance use and overdose prevention.
- Knowing the signs and symptoms of an overdose and what to do if you think you or someone else may be overdosing is life-saving information.
- A history and physical examination to look for evidence of drug poisoning will be performed.
- For people with addictions to drugs like stimulants or cannabis, no medications are currently available to assist in treatment, so treatment consists of behavioral therapies.
If a suicide attempt was the reason for the overdose, psychiatry services may need to be consulted. If you think you or someone you may know is experiencing an overdose, the best thing you can do is treat it like an emergency. Afterward, you may experience many complicated emotions about the overdose, how you reacted, and what to do to prevent future overdoses. Know that medical and mental health community support is available, and you don’t need to go through this alone.