They may perform other forms of medical care other than naloxone, such as intubation to help with breathing. Fentanyl is an opioid that’s 50 to 100 times stronger than morphine. People who make heroin often add nonmedical fentanyl to it to increase its potency (strength). Narcotics are a class of drugs that are chemicals — natural or synthetic — that drug overdose meaning interact with nerve cells and have the potential to reduce pain.

Researchers also point to less potent fentanyl being sold on the streets in some U.S. communities. High death rates in recent years may also mean fewer vulnerable people living with addiction. Death following opioid overdose is preventable if the person receives basic life support and the timely administration of the drug naloxone. Naloxone is an antidote to opioids that will reverse the effects of an opioid overdose if administered in time.

For Health Care Professionals

1. To avoid an alcohol overdose, avoid drinking excessive amounts of alcohol in a short time.
2. A drug overdose means that an individual has consumed a toxic amount of a substance.
3. On February 1, 2021, a citizen initiative termed Measure 110 went into effect in Oregon.

Opioid use disorder is a medical condition — it requires care just like any other condition. Opioid overdoses are medical emergencies that require quick diagnosis and treatment. Because of this, first responders and people who are trained to administer naloxone (Narcan®) mainly rely on symptoms and personal history to diagnose them. As the person experiencing an overdose is usually unconscious, providers rely on bystanders or loved ones to tell them if the person has a history of substance use.

People most likely to witness an opioid overdose

Symptoms, treatment, and recovery depend on the specific drug involved. An overdose is not the same as a poisoning, although the effects can be the same. Poisoning occurs when someone or something (such as the environment) exposes you to dangerous chemicals, plants, or other harmful substances without your knowledge. An overdose is when you take more than the recommended amount of something, often a medicine or drug.

A .gov website belongs to an official government organization in the United States. The appropriate number of pills depends on the person and their medication. If you are experiencing suicidal thoughts, contact the 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline at 988 for support and assistance from a trained counselor. If you have depression or suicidal thoughts, contact your doctor right away. The substance that has been taken may often be determined by asking the person. However, if they will not, or cannot, due to an altered level of consciousness, provide this information, a search of the home or questioning of friends and family may be helpful.

General Health

«Queensland Health has previously warned on the dangers of these drugs,» he said. Ms Lang said the pill testing services were yet to hear directly from the government about the contracts. «Certainly, if the person had taken this counterfeit oxycontin pill with nitazene in it, it absolutely could have ended in their death,» Ms Lang said. Nitazenes are a group of substances that were first developed in the 1950s but were never used clinically because of how potent and addictive they are.

WHO also supports countries in monitoring trends in drug use and related harm, to better understand the scale of opioid dependence and opioid overdose. CDC is committed to addressing the opioid overdose epidemic and supporting states and communities as they continue work to identify outbreaks, collect data, respond to overdoses, and provide care to those in their communities. This rise in opioid overdose deaths can be outlined in three distinct waves. In a hospital setting, healthcare providers order drug tests to diagnose opioid overdose. They also perform other tests to assess the health of the person and to look for possible complications. An opioid overdose can happen when a person takes too much of an opioid or a combination of opioids and other substances, such as alcohol, sedatives or stimulants.

Who may be at greater risk?

Getting medical help quickly can make a big difference in the effectiveness of drug overdose treatment. Queensland Injectors for Advocacy and Action (QuIVAA) chief executive Emma Kill said naloxone, a lifesaving medication that has the potential to reverse opioid overdoses, should be a standard item in first aid kits. WHO recommends that naloxone be made available to people likely to witness an opioid overdose, as well as training in the management of opioid overdose. In suspected opioid overdose, first responders should focus on airway management, assisting ventilation and administering naloxone. After successful resuscitation following the administration of naloxone, the level of consciousness and breathing of the affected person should be closely observed until full recovery has been achieved.

If you see these signs of overdose, do not abandon the person out of fear of getting in trouble. An overdose can lead to serious medical complications, including death. The severity of a drug overdose depends on the drug, the amount taken, and the physical and medical history of the person who overdosed. Stabilization of the person’s airway, breathing, and circulation (ABCs) is the initial treatment of an overdose.

Drug alerts have been issued in almost every Australian state and the ACT since 2021 following overdoses linked to the synthetic opioids, including drug-induced deaths. 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.