Drug Overdose Symptoms

Drug overdose refers to the intake of more than the recommended dosage of a drug. An overdose can occur accidentally due to low drug tolerance or the use of multiple substances. On the other hand, one can overindulge in drug use when they intend to harm themselves or when they desire to obtain more significant effects from a drug.

Regardless of the intent, a drug overdose can be fatal; hence it is crucial to always look out for drug overdose symptoms and decide when it’s time to seek drug detox treatment at Wellness Counseling Vida Entera.

The drug overdose symptoms shown by a substance user differ depending on the type of drug and the dosage taken. For instance, drugs that depress the central nervous system, such as benzos may reduce the heartbeat and breathing rates. Moreover, a person may have clammy skin or die from a respiratory arrest. An overdose of a hallucinogen such as Ketamine can increase agitation, psychotic reactions, and confusion. Taking a lethal dosage of marijuana may cause a user to feel tired and nauseous. Additionally, one may lack balance then experience increased heartbeat and irritability.

An opioids overdose can affect the physical and mental health of a user. You may experience symptoms such as constricted pupils, decreased consciousness, and change in skin color to blue. A user can also have respiratory depression, and pupils may dilate if one suffers from brain injury due to the overdose. Most drug users use stimulants such as cocaine to boost the neural activity of the brain. However, an overdose of these drugs may cause adverse effects such as seizures and increased blood pressure. Additionally, one may experience hallucinations, restlessness, and increased body temperature.

Drug Overdose Risk Factors

Using any drug exposes you or a loved one to the risk of overdosing. However, some aspects make some people more prone to overindulgence compared to others. For example, a person who has extreme dependence on a drug is likely to take lethal dosages. Furthermore, using multiple substances such as cocaine, marijuana, and alcohol may lead to an overdose.

Taking a significant amount of a drug at once may overwhelm the body. Users who enroll in addiction treatment programs but drop out are at high risk of overdosing. This is because they may experience severe withdrawal symptoms such as hallucinations, which can prompt them to take large amounts of substances. Other drug overdose predisposing factors are previous suicide attempts and using intravenous drugs.

What to Do If a Person Overdoses on Drugs

The most crucial step one should take after overdosing is seeking medical help. One can do this by rushing them to a nearby health care provider or contacting 911. Notwithstanding, you may need to perform some first response procedures before accessing medical attention. Such may include checking the pulse and breathing rate in addition to giving first aid. In case a person is conscious, one can inquire which drugs they used, the dosages, and the time at which they took the substances.

A person should also provide the medics with the containers of the substances taken. Physicians will perform various emergency care measures to treat drug overdose. Such include collecting blood and urine samples, inducing vomiting, and washing out the stomach. Moreover, one may need to enroll in an addiction treatment program to help them recover from drug use. Some of the treatment programs provided by addiction treatment centers are:

Early identification of drug overdose symptoms can help prevent further harm. At Wellness Counseling Vida Entera, we can help you fight addiction using our intensive treatment model. Our team consists of medics and therapists who work together to enhance your safety and recovery. Some of our effective programs are partial hospitalization, dual diagnosis programs, and intensive outpatient.

Contact Wellness Counseling Vida Entera at 951.400.0082 to overcome drug addiction today.