They also perform other tests to assess the health of the person and to look for possible complications. Drug overdose is the leading cause of accidental death in the United States, with opioids being the most common cause. An opioid overdose can happen when a person takes too much of an opioid or a combination of opioids and other substances, such as alcohol, sedatives or stimulants.
- Everyone has a role to play in helping prevent fatal and non-fatal drug overdoses.
- You should seek medical help immediately if you have these symptoms or witness them in someone else and suspect they may have overdosed.
- You should also not mix alcohol with prescription drugs without checking with your doctor first.
- If you suspect someone may be overdosing, do not leave them alone.
- The FDA has approved a prescription treatment that can be used by family members or caregivers to treat a person known or suspected to have had an opioid overdose.
Blueprint does not include all companies, products or offers that may be available to you within the market. Patients who experience an allergic reaction, such as hives or swelling in the face, lips, or throat, should seek medical help immediately. They should not drive or perform other potentially unsafe tasks.
Some signs of a depressant drug overdose are loss of consciousness, being unresponsive or limp, pale or clammy skin, blue lips or nails, shallow or irregular breathing or no breathing at all. Addressing a substance use disorder can help decrease the chance of a drug overdose. After calling 911, stay with alcohol use disorder symptoms and causes the individual experiencing an alcohol overdose. If they begin vomiting, help them lean forward so they do not choke. Alternatively, if they have lost consciousness, an individual can place them in the recovery position. Individuals experiencing a stimulant overdose should stay hydrated and cool.
Patients prescribed an automatic injection device for naloxone or who use the nasal spray should keep the item available at all times. It is important to remember to replace medication when the expiration date passes and if exposed to temperatures below 39°F or above 104°F. The operator will ask for details like location, the number of people needing assistance, their age, whether they are breathing or unconscious and what substances they have taken, if you know.
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. 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. If you see these signs of overdose, do not abandon the person out of fear of getting in trouble. An overdose can lead to serious medical complications, including death.
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Also commonly known as an OD, an overdose is a condition of taking a larger dose of a drug than the body is able to handle. Overdoses can occur accidentally, even when a drug is taken as prescribed, or deliberately, as a suicide attempt. No, naloxone cannot be taken prior to using drugs to prevent an overdose.
What Is an Overdose?
Everyone has a role to play in helping prevent fatal and non-fatal drug overdoses. Check out these implementation toolkits that include fact sheets, videos, conversation starters, and other resources that are tailored for specific audiences at different opportunities for prevention. If first responders suspect an opioid overdose, they’ll administer naloxone, a medication that treats opioid overdose.
FACT SHEET: Biden-Harris Administration Launches the White House Challenge to Save Lives from Overdose
A person can also overdose within that timeframe if they have a substantially large amount of opioids in their system. That’s why it’s important to get help from emergency services and make sure how to search and what to ask navigator niaaa they’re not alone even if they respond well to the first dose of naloxone. If the person is at risk of overdose of opioid pain medication and naloxone (Narcan) is available, please administer.
If you think someone you love may be using or misusing opioids, talk to your loved one about the dangers of opioids and try to connect them to medical resources. An opioid overdose happens when opioid use causes respiratory depression, which can lead to respiratory failure and death. Narcotics are a class of drugs that are chemicals — natural or synthetic — that interact with nerve cells and have the potential to reduce pain. Opiates occur in nature, though they can still be very dangerous in their purified and concentrated forms.
How is an opioid overdose diagnosed?
We’ll be in touch with the latest information on how President Biden and his administration are working for the American people, as well as ways you can get involved and help our country build back better. They may also give you first-aid advice, like putting the person in the recovery position if required. “Different drugs affect people differently depending on their unique physiology and the circumstances in which they are using drugs. The Australian Drug and Alcohol foundation describes an overdose as a “severe adverse reaction” caused by a a toxic amount (or combination) of a drug.