International Overdose Awareness Day (IOAD) is a global event held on August 31st each year and aims to raise awareness of overdose and reduce the stigma of a drug-related death. It also acknowledges the grief felt by families and friends remembering those who have met with death or permanent injury as a result of drug overdose. Overdose day spreads the message that the tragedy of overdose death is preventable
www.overdoseday.com
Overdose Facts, Myths and Symptoms
Drug Overdose
An overdose is defined as the intentional or accidental ingestion of a
drug over the normal or recommended amount. The body responds with
severe symptoms because it is overwhelmed and is unable to metabolize
the drug quickly enough. An overdose can cause a person to fall into
unconsciousness, enter a state of psychosis or experience painful
symptoms. Each type of overdose poses significant health risks,
including contributing to a persons death.
Illicit drugs have a higher risk of causing an overdose than
prescription medication due to the unknown purity of the substances.
Additionally, intentionally ingesting large quantities of drugs in a
binge
can cause a person to overdose, or taking a drug after a period of
abstinence. Certain drugs such as cocaine, methamphetamine and heroin
have a higher risk of overdosing on, particularly for intravenous drug
users.
Overdose Symptoms
There are many different reactions and symptoms that can be
experienced when a person overdoses. The severity of the overdose may
also be determined by the amount of drug taken. Gastrointestinal
problems including abdominal pain, nausea, vomiting and diarrhea are
common. People may also experience chest pains, raised heart rate,
dramatic reduction in blood pressure or abnormal heart beats. Shallow or
rapid breathing, hallucinations, confusion, cool or hot skin and
psychosis are also common symptoms. These symptoms can all lead to long term, serious conditions and in some cases, death.
Overdose Myths
There are many
myths about overdosing,
what to do in the case of being with someone who is overdosing on a
drug, and ways to prevent overdosing. These include putting someone in a
bath or shower which can lead to drowning and death. Slapping, hitting
or pinching a person will not rouse a person into consciousness nor will
trying to make them walk around when they are slipping into
unconsciousness. Some people believe that inducing vomiting will reduce
the drug affects but this is dangerous and may lead to choking. Some
intravenous drug users believe that injecting a person with another
drug, such as amphetamines when they are overdosing on heroin, will
reverse the overdose. Salt water and milk injection are also other
common myths.
Overdose Accidents
Overdosing on a drug is not often something that is intentional.
Situations arise where too much of a drug is taken and the person will
slip into an overdose. Risk factors for overdosing on a drug include
drug binging,
combination drug use,
taking the drug alone or adverse reactions to adulterant substances. In
many cases, the person overdosing is with other people who are also
taking drugs or who are intoxicated. This can mean that reaction times,
understanding of the dangerous situation at hand and knowing what to do
in an emergency are affected. Delayed responses to an overdose can be
make the difference between a non-fatal and fatal overdose.
Intentional Overdose
Sadly, some people who overdose on a drug do so intentionally. This form of
suicide
is particularly sad as it can be a sign of a person being unable to
deal with their life, their problems, their addiction. According to the
World Health Organization,
over 1 million people die every year from suicide. In the United States
alone, over 30,000 people commit suicide every year. Suicide is the
leading cause of death for men and women under 34 years of age in
Australia.
Substances are often a contributor to suicide as the use of drugs can
expose individuals to traumatic events, increased social problems and
financial difficulties. Additionally, alcohol and other drugs can
influence a persons thinking, reduce inhibitions and increase risk
taking behaviors. A person who is intoxicated or high may decide to take
more of a drug or combine drugs as a way of taking their own life. It
is believed that alcohol or other drugs play a critical role at the time
of the suicide act.
Heroin Overdose
Overdosing on heroin
is a very common but potentially fatal side effect of taking the drug.
Overdosing occurs when the dose taken is greater than a typical dose.
This can happen very easily due to the range in purity and potency of
heroin available on the streets. After a period of abstinence from
heroin, such as when attempting to break the habit, the risk of fatal
heroin overdose is very high. It is instantaneous and many people do not
have time to get help before they become unconscious. Harm minimization
steps should be taken such as never injecting alone and always testing
the potency before taking a large amount.
When a person overdoses from heroin, their breathing will slow, their
skin will be cool to the touch and they will have a low body
temperature. Twitching, gurgling, vomiting and blue tips of fingers and
toes are also common symptoms. Immediate medical intervention is
required because some people will die as a result of overdosing on
heroin. People overdosing on heroin can be given the drug Narcan
(naloxone) to reverse the potentially lethal effects of the opiate.
Narcan
can be administered through a nasal spray or injected into the person
who is overdosing and it will immediately reverse the overdose.
Crack and Cocaine Overdose
Overdosing on cocaine, and particularly crack cocaine is very common.
Crack cocaine is a more potent form of cocaine and affects a person
quicker than many other drugs. It is also a drug that users may
compulsively re-dose on which can lead to a large amount of the drug
being ingested in a short period. The drug also poses challenges for
determining the potency and purity of the drug until it is too late
which may lead to a person taking too much and slipping into an
overdose.
Cocaine overdose can be mild or severe, depending on the
route of administration.
When smoking too much of the drug in a crack pipe, a person may
experience a quickened or irregular heart beat, hyperventilation,
seizures and nausea. A
severe overdose
can cause a person to have a stroke, heart attack, severe respiratory
problems and in some cases death. Immediate medical intervention is
required when a person is experiencing a severe overdose to reduce the
risk of dying from the drug.
Methamphetamine Overdose
A
methamphetamine
overdose can occur easily when a person ingests too much of the drug
over a short period. Because of the way that the drug works, an overdose
may not be immediately apparent like with heroin. Methamphetamine can
have a delayed reaction and the body will respond with a severe and
rapid increase in heart rate, rapid breathing, raised body temperature
which can all cause a person to suffer from a heart attack or stroke.
Source: http://alcoholrehab.com/drug-addiction/overdose-facts-myths-and-symptoms/
