Download ArticleDownload ArticleThis article was co-authored by Catherine Boswell, PhD. Dr. Catherine Boswell is a Licensed Psychologist and a Co-Founder of Psynergy Psychological Associates, a private therapy practice based in Houston, Texas. With over 15 years of experience, Dr. Boswell specializes in treating individuals, groups, couples, and families struggling with trauma, relationships, grief, and chronic pain. She holds a Ph.D. in Counseling Psychology from the University of Houston. Dr. Bowell has taught courses to Master’s level students at the University of Houston. She is also an author, speaker, and coach.
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Overdosing is when someone ingests or applies a substance, such as drugs, beyond the recommended dosage. Drug overdose has been the leading cause of injury deaths in the United States [1]. It can also happen when mixing substances; it can put a huge strain on your body and increase the risk factor. If you witness someone overdosing or suspect someone of overdosing, follow these steps below.
Steps
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Call an ambulance or poison center right away. Do not wait for the drug to wear off; call for help right away. A drug overdose can be fatal or cause permanent damage to a person's organs. In the United States, poison control can be reached in all 50 states free of charge by dialing 1-800-222-1222.
Look for symptoms. There are many symptoms of drug overdose, which include:- Change in body temperature (sweating or overheating; shivering or drop in body temperature)
- Heart rate changing drastically
- Chest pains
- Vomiting
- Diarrhea
- Difficulty breathing
- Abdominal cramps
- Dizziness
- Seizures
- Snoring deeply
- Skin turning pale
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Stay close to them, and always keep an eye on them. Someone who has overdosed can go in and out of consciousness. Try to keep the patient awake.
Make sure they do not eat or drink. If you do not know what they have taken, or even if you do, it may not be safe to put other chemicals in the body, as this can have a negative or even dangerous reaction.
Know what to do if the person is having a seizure. In some cases, an overdose can cause a person to have a seizure, which can be doubly scary if you've never dealt with either situation before. However, the steps for dealing with someone's seizure are actually fairly simple in nature.- Lower the person to the floor.
- Make sure the person is still breathing.
- Stay with the person. Especially since this person has just overdosed, do not leave them alone.
Do not give them a "shower". A common suggestion for those who have overdosed on drugs or are suffering from alcohol poisoning is to get the person into a shower and turn on the cold water, dousing them. Avoid doing this in any situation. The water temperature might put the body in shock and cause the person's body temperature to drop into dangerous levels - and it's pretty tough to drag a person in and out of a shower if they're incapacitated.
Get information on what substance the person might have taken. If the person is conscious and able to communicate, try to get information on what they overdosed on. This will help the doctors or paramedics to give the appropriate treatment without wasting any time.
Get medical help. After the overdose, the person who overdosed should get immediate medical attention. This will help others to understand if the overdose was intentional or accidental, which, in turn, helps the person and medical figures figure out if they need psychiatric help.
Always check up on the individual. Get them the proper help. Give them the right contacts such as a rehab or addiction hotline.
Expert Q&A
Tips
- Call poison control to speak to an expert.Thanks
- Keep all drugs locked away in a safe, secure place. Be sure that they're taken only as directed.Thanks
- Many states have good Samaritan laws that prevents drug- and alcohol-related arrests in the event of an overdose.Thanks
Expert Interview
Thanks for reading our article! If you’d like to learn more about helping drug addicts, check out our in-depth interview with Catherine Boswell, PhD.
References
- ↑ http://healthyamericans.org/reports/injuryprevention15/
- http://ie.reachout.com/inform-yourself/alcohol-drugs-and-addiction/drugs/what-to-do-if-your-friend-has-overdosed/
- http://www.webmd.com/mental-health/addiction/drug-overdose?page=3
- http://www.emedicinehealth.com/drug_overdose/page7_em.htm#self-care_at_home
- http://www.overdoseday.com/resources/overdose-basics/
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