Americans are more likely to die from overdoses than car crashes or gun violence. Left untreated, overdoses can have dire consequences leading to death or paralysis. Emergency services are crucial to save lives but, without the proper follow-up treatment, the user risks another overdose. The Good Samaritan Law was enacted in most states to protect people who call 911 to help a person who has overdosed. Those who call 911 cannot be arrested or charged for drug-related offenses, though this excludes distribution.

Suicide prevention

Narcan can quickly reverse the effects of an opioid overdose while waiting on emergency services to arrive. If you or someone you know has an opioid use disorder, it’s highly encouraged to have Narcan available in case of an overdose. While overdose prevention differs depending on the substance used, there are some general precautions that can decrease risk. Using prescription and over-the-counter medication according to the directions provided by the prescribing health care provider or on the packaging are the best ways to prevent overdose. This includes not sharing prescription medications with people for whom they are not prescribed.

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• Do not share a prescription or take medications prescribed to another individual.
• The time between someone taking a number of drugs that may cause an overdose and potential fatality depends on a variety of factors, including the person’s overall health and age.
• If you or they have survived an overdose, seek help before another overdose occurs.

Why Do People Overdose on Drugs or Alcohol?

• Often, emergency services are not the first people on the scene of an overdose.
• 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.
• Americans are more likely to die from overdoses than car crashes or gun violence.
• Cocaine intoxication is dangerous because it affects every organ system.
• Drug abusers also need this same support in order to stay clean and safe.
• Unfortunately, the number of deaths resulting from opioid overdoses continues to persist.

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.

Key terms

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.

Some substances like opioids are drug overdose meaning 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.

Opioids

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.

If you’re alone, call 911 and tell the operator quickly what happened and provide an address if you can. There is no safe level of drug use, use of any drug carries some risk. If you do choose to use a substance, here are some ways to keep you safer from overdose. Always seek treatment for paracetamol overdose immediately, even if the person seems well. We do not receive any commission or fee that is dependent upon which treatment provider a caller chooses. Inpatient rehab may be beneficial for those with a severe addiction, dual diagnosis, or polysubstance addiction due to the 24/7 care 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.

Overdose risk factors

Reach out for help for yourself or a loved one by contacting FHE Health now. If you 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.

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.

The Experience Blog

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.

The drug naloxone (Narcan) can also help treat an opioid overdose by blocking opioids’ effects in the body. This medication is available in a nasal spray and as an intravenous injection at the hospital. For example, overdosing on opioids adversely affects an individual’s ability to breathe. This lack of oxygen can cause organ damage, unconsciousness, and even death.