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Jun 29, 2017 · First, the drug spreads throughout your body. When you take an opioid, whether a pill or an injectable, the drug enters the body and travels through your synapses, through the heart and into...
- What Is a Drug Overdose?
What happens if you overdose on an upper, AKA a stimulant...
- What Is a Drug Overdose?
- Overview
- Risk factors
- Symptoms
- Treatment
- Preventing an overdose
Drug overdose meaning
A drug overdose is taking too much of a substance, whether it’s prescription, over-the-counter, legal, or illegal. Drug overdoses may be accidental or intentional. If you’ve taken more than the recommended amount of a drug or enough to have a harmful effect on your body’s functions, you have overdosed.
Several factors can increase the risk of a drug overdose. These include:
Improper storage of drugs: Improperly stored drugs can be easy targets for small children, who are curious and tend to put things in their mouth. It’s easy for children to get into and accidently overdose on drugs that aren’t properly sealed and stored away from them.
Not knowing or following dosage instructions: Even adults can overdose on medication if they don’t follow the instructions. Accidently taking too much or taking your doses sooner than directed can easily lead to an overdose of a drug that is otherwise safe for you.
History of misuse or addiction: Intentionally misusing prescription drugs or using illicit drugs can put you at risk of a drug overdose, particularly if it happens often or if you become addicted. This risk increases if you use multiple drugs, mix different drugs, or use them with alcohol.
The symptoms of a drug overdose may vary depending on the person, drug, and amount taken. However, universal symptoms include:
•nausea and vomiting
•drowsiness
•loss of consciousness
•trouble breathing
•difficulty walking
Treatment for a drug overdose varies depending on the situation. Knowing how much of what drug was ingested can be extremely helpful during treatment. However, this information is not always available. General treatment strategies that healthcare providers may use include:
•clearing the airway or inserting a breathing tube when there is a problem with breathing
•giving activated charcoal, which acts in the digestive tract to absorb the drug
•inducing vomiting to remove the substance from the stomach
•pumping the stomach to remove the substance from the stomach
•giving intravenous fluids to help speed up the body’s removal of the substance
Drug overdoses can be prevented in many ways. The best methods remove opportunities for accidental overdose or triggers for intentional overdose in the first place.
If you have children in the house, make sure that all medications, both prescription and over-the-counter, are kept well out of reach.
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. You should also not mix alcohol with prescription drugs without checking with your doctor first.
If you misuse drugs, quitting is the best way for you to prevent a drug overdose. Know that certain ways of taking drugs can be riskier than others. Inhaling or injecting drugs may cause them to get to your brain more quickly and also increases your chance of using an amount that can severely harm you. If you feel like you can’t quit, talk to your doctor. There are many programs that can help you. For more information, read about overcoming addiction.
If you have depression or suicidal thoughts, contact your doctor right away. Your doctor can help you get the psychiatric care you need.
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- Mary Ellen Ellis
Aug 23, 2024 · Overdose happens when someone consumes a toxic amount of one or multiple drugs. An overdose is a medical emergency, so if you think that you or another person is experiencing an overdose, it is critical to call 911 immediately.
May 28, 2024 · 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.
Aug 30, 2023 · A drug overdose can occur after an individual takes too much of a medication or substance. The leading cause of drug overdoses today is opioid medications. Stimulants, alcohol, and...
- Carolyn Farnsworth
Mar 12, 2024 · What happens if you overdose on an upper, AKA a stimulant drug? Stimulant drugs include amphetamines like cocaine, meth, speed and MDMA and study drugs like dexies, Ritalin and Adderall...
May 30, 2024 · If you believe someone is experiencing a drug overdose, please stop reading and seek medical attention. Overdoses are considered a medical emergency and, in many cases, can be a potentially life-threatening situation.
