How to spot and stop a drug overdose: symptoms, action steps, and prevention

Adverse effects also can occur even at therapeutic doses and are generally less severe, although they can still be harmful. Nurses should monitor for both but treat drug toxicity as a medical emergency requiring immediate intervention. Whether it’s done on purpose or by what is drug toxicity accident, mixing drugs significantly increases the risk of harm. Drugs taken together, or within a short period of time, can interact in the body in ways that make their effects more dangerous. This is especially true if drugs are taken with alcohol – which raises the risk of overdose.

Can You Die from a Stimulant Overdose?

One of the most significant signs of a drug overdose is abnormal or irregular breathing. This can manifest as slow and shallow breathing, gasping for breath, or even complete amphetamine addiction treatment cessation of breathing. It’s important to monitor the person’s breathing carefully, as it can rapidly deteriorate. If you notice any changes in breathing patterns, it’s essential to seek emergency assistance immediately.

Medical Treatment and Support Options

This is because both drugs prevent blood clotting, and their effects add up. It’s easy to overlook many common sources of poisoning that could put you or your family at risk. Whether you double-check that medications are locked away or double down on food safety, simple steps can make a lifesaving difference. It depends on the type of poison and other factors like your age and health. Some common forms of poisoning, like food poisoning or poison ivy exposure, are mild and go away with at-home care.

Poisoning: First aid

• If you ever find yourself witnessing someone in distress, whether it is a loved one or a stranger, knowing how to respond can make all the difference.
• Many fatal overdoses across the country could have been prevented if an onlooker had called 911 to get the person emergency medical care.
• “If any of these appear, call emergency services before you do anything else,” advises Sina Hartung, MMSC-BMI.

Food poisoning is illness caused by food or water contaminated with pathogens (bacteria and viruses), parasites, or toxins. This can be caused by eating unwashed fruits and vegetables or eating raw meat, poultry, and seafood. If you are experiencing suicidal thoughts, contact the 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline at 988 for support and assistance from a trained counselor. Our Find a Provider tool makes it easy to search Cleveland Clinic’s trusted network. Whether you need stitches, a broken bone set or think your appendix might be causing your abdominal pain, Cleveland Clinic’s emergency medicine team is here to help. Blood tests can also screen for levels of the medication in the bloodstream, showing whether these levels are too high.

If someone is unresponsive or unconscious, it’s crucial to call emergency services right away. While waiting for help to arrive, make sure to stay with the person and monitor their vital signs. If you misuse drugs, quitting is the best way for you to prevent a drug overdose.

Where Can People Get More Information on Drug Overdoses?

This process aims to remove the toxic substance from the body and mitigate its harmful effects. This can lead to serious health problems, brain injury, or even death. So, the faster you get medical attention, the better your chances of a full recovery. Let’s explore what a drug overdose is and the steps you can take to get help. Some opioids are prescribed for pain and are legal, whereas others aren’t. They can come directly from the poppy plant, which is why sometimes people who eat poppy seed bagels may fail a drug screen.