The gap between recommendations and practice is significant. Only half of countries provide access to effective treatment options for opioid dependence and less than 10% of people worldwide in need of such treatment are receiving it (5). Access to naloxone is generally limited to health professionals. In many countries there is still limited availability of naloxone even in medical settings, including in ambulances.
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Opioid use disorder is a medical condition — it requires care just like any other condition. 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. It can be difficult to determine if someone is overdosing, but erring on the side of caution can save a life. The healthcare provider may be able to use an antidote for certain drug overdoses. For example, the drug naloxone can help reverse the effects of a heroin overdose.
Who may be at greater risk?
Cannabis, or shrooms and alcohol marijuana, is a substance that many people find harmless to consume. Cannabis has been considered the world’s most-used illicit substance, though it has gained legality in some places. The appropriate number of pills depends on the person and their medication. The opioid epidemic spurs a search for new, safer painkillers.
How is an opioid overdose treated?
With the right care and prevention strategies, it is possible to treat drug overdoses or prevent them altogether. Naloxone (Narcan) is the main emergency treatment for opioid overdose. Naloxone is an opioid antagonist, which means it attaches to opioid receptors in your body and reverses and blocks the effects of opioids already in your system. Naloxone can restore normal breathing within two to five minutes to a person who’s experiencing an opioid overdose. Unfortunately, we continue to experience an epidemic of drug overdoses within the US and across the globe. Overdose-related deaths have increased by 31% from 2019 to 2020, highlighting an alarming spike in what are otherwise preventable deaths.
- Of course, moderating the consumption of alcohol and other substances can be challenging for individuals with a substance use disorder.
- Overdose is the term used when someone enters into a critical state from ingesting too much of a substance or blend of substances.
- If you or someone you know has a substance use disorder, it is imperative that you understand what overdose is and how to recognize the symptoms of one so you can prevent any further harm and potentially save a life.
- The mid-1990s saw a significant increase in opioids being prescribed for pain, driven by pharmaceutical companies.
- Naloxone (Narcan) is the main emergency treatment for opioid overdose.
“Opioids kill people by slowing the rate of breathing and the depth of breathing,” says medical toxicologist and emergency physician Andrew Stolbach of Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine. If a patient overdosed on Oxycontin, which has a slow release in the gut, they can be revived from overdose only to overdose again. They may need an IV infusion of Narcan in slow-release, until mary jane drugs the opioids are cleared from the body. Knowing your options and ways to prevent overdose can help lower your risk of opioid-related death. Simultaneously, the last two decades have seen an influx of heroin and synthetic opioids to the black market, making illegal opioids cheap and easy to purchase and fueling the epidemic even further.
After calling 911, stay with 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. There are a range of treatments available for different kinds of drug overdose.
About 75% of opioid overdoses are due to nonmedical use of synthetic opioids — mainly forms of nonmedical fentanyl. People experiencing an opioid overdose need naloxone (commonly known by the brand name Narcan®). Naloxone can reverse the effects of an overdose if it’s given to the person quickly. The person will substance use group activities still need medical attention after the administration of naloxone.
When opioids enter your body, they can influence all major systems, from cardiovascular and gastrointestinal to central nervous and immune. If you are experiencing suicidal thoughts, contact the 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline at 988 for support and assistance from a trained counselor. American Addiction Centers (AAC) is committed to delivering original, truthful, accurate, unbiased, and medically current information. We strive to create content that is clear, concise, and easy to understand. Cause a slight drop in blood pressure or trigger an abnormal heart rhythm. If you have depression or suicidal thoughts, contact your doctor right away.
Naloxone nasal sprays, which reverse the effects of the overdose, can be purchased over the counter (OTC) and kept on hand in case of emergencies. “If you live in one of the few areas with supervised consumption centers (also known as overdose prevention centers), then those are the safest places to use drugs,” Marino says. Particularly if you’re taking opioids illegally, try to do so in the presence of another individual. Then, if an overdose does occur, someone is around to help and administer naloxone if you need it. Some local drug programs also offer the sprays free of cost. If you feel that you or someone you know is at risk of an opioid overdose, you may be able to obtain Narcan at a free clinic, library, fire station, or other community organization.
