People with family or friends suffering from addiction are all too familiar with the fear of of drug overdose. It's always in the back of your mind and you pray everyday that it doesn't happen to your loved one. Unfortunately, drug overdoses are a rising problem, so you must be prepared to take control of the situation should you walk in on one.
Don't Panic
If you are suddenly thrust into an overdose situation, keep a cool head. Panicking will do neither of you any favors: panic and anxiety will kick you straight into survival mode, which will make it hard for you to think straight. As a result, you may make mistakes in crucial moments.
More importantly, you need to keep them as calm as possible during this difficult situation. Panic and anxiety …show more content…
For example, if your loved one is still conscious, they may ask you to help them feel comfortable. If they are unconscious, they may want you to turn them over on their side in case of vomiting.
Most importantly, they are going to want to know what kind of drug was used. Sometimes the person overdosing may just tell you. Other times they may be too confused or paranoid to help, or may even be unconscious. That's when you need to quickly find out what drug may have been taken.
Quickly Diagnose the Overdose Symptoms
The symptoms of drug overdoses are similar, but often varry slightly depending on the type of drug used. Identifying the exact symptoms can help you prepare the attending medical experts use the right emergency treatment procedure. Symptoms for the following drugs include:
Opiates – Constipation, nausea, vomiting, spasms, difficulty breathing, decreased pulse rate, low blood pressure, confusion, drowsiness, seizures
Alcohol – Blue skin, poor breathing, confusion, slurred speech, anger, low temperature, inability to wake
Cocaine – Increased heart rate, high blood pressure, light-headedness, dehydration, uncontrollable muscle twitching, panic attacks, aggression, …show more content…
After all, their symptoms could become life-threatening while you're rifling through their hand bags.
Find Out the Cause for the Overdose
Once your loved one has been treated, you need to find out what led to their overdose. If you're lucky, your loved one was a first time user who under estimated the drug and may never use again. However, illicit drug overdoses are more in long-term sufferers of addiction: their body often demands larger doses as it acclimates to its affects.
However, there's another potential cause of overdose that often gets overlooked: suicidal tendencies. This cause is especially prevalent in instances of prescription drug overdose in people who don't otherwise use illicit substances.
Identifying suicidal thoughts isn't easy because people often hide these feelings successfully for years and seem to live a normal, happy life. Watch out for these common suicidal thought symptoms, which include:
Extended periods of depression
Thoughts of inappropriate shame
Direct suicide threats
Personality changes
Sudden focus on death and
Don't Panic
If you are suddenly thrust into an overdose situation, keep a cool head. Panicking will do neither of you any favors: panic and anxiety will kick you straight into survival mode, which will make it hard for you to think straight. As a result, you may make mistakes in crucial moments.
More importantly, you need to keep them as calm as possible during this difficult situation. Panic and anxiety …show more content…
For example, if your loved one is still conscious, they may ask you to help them feel comfortable. If they are unconscious, they may want you to turn them over on their side in case of vomiting.
Most importantly, they are going to want to know what kind of drug was used. Sometimes the person overdosing may just tell you. Other times they may be too confused or paranoid to help, or may even be unconscious. That's when you need to quickly find out what drug may have been taken.
Quickly Diagnose the Overdose Symptoms
The symptoms of drug overdoses are similar, but often varry slightly depending on the type of drug used. Identifying the exact symptoms can help you prepare the attending medical experts use the right emergency treatment procedure. Symptoms for the following drugs include:
Opiates – Constipation, nausea, vomiting, spasms, difficulty breathing, decreased pulse rate, low blood pressure, confusion, drowsiness, seizures
Alcohol – Blue skin, poor breathing, confusion, slurred speech, anger, low temperature, inability to wake
Cocaine – Increased heart rate, high blood pressure, light-headedness, dehydration, uncontrollable muscle twitching, panic attacks, aggression, …show more content…
After all, their symptoms could become life-threatening while you're rifling through their hand bags.
Find Out the Cause for the Overdose
Once your loved one has been treated, you need to find out what led to their overdose. If you're lucky, your loved one was a first time user who under estimated the drug and may never use again. However, illicit drug overdoses are more in long-term sufferers of addiction: their body often demands larger doses as it acclimates to its affects.
However, there's another potential cause of overdose that often gets overlooked: suicidal tendencies. This cause is especially prevalent in instances of prescription drug overdose in people who don't otherwise use illicit substances.
Identifying suicidal thoughts isn't easy because people often hide these feelings successfully for years and seem to live a normal, happy life. Watch out for these common suicidal thought symptoms, which include:
Extended periods of depression
Thoughts of inappropriate shame
Direct suicide threats
Personality changes
Sudden focus on death and