Symptoms of drug overdose vary as they depend on the specific drug used by a given person. It is good to be able to recognize the behavior of a person who has overdosed on amphetamines, ecstasy, heroin or cocaine. Remember that anyone can come across a drug overdose, so having knowledge about first aid for drug overdose is extremely important.

The causes of drug overdose are different: sometimes the addicted person unknowingly takes too much of the drug, in other cases the excessive use of a psychoactive substance is deliberate and is to cause the patient's death (in the case of heroin, such behavior is commonly referred to as a "golden shot"). Regardless of the cause of a drug overdose, it is important that a person who is intoxicated with a psychoactive substance can be saved - if, of course, help is provided quickly enough. Knowing the rules of first aid for drug overdose is very useful, but before you can give it, you first need to know the symptoms of drug overdose.

Almost 10,000 people - this is the number of deaths in Europe from drug overdoses every year.

Symptoms of opiate overdose

Opiates include both the strongest painkillers (such as morphine) and heroin. Signs of an opiate overdose are:

  • respiratory arrest with a simultaneously perceptible pulse (such a compilation of ailments is considered a pathognomonic symptom, i.e. typical for an opiate overdose),
  • significant constriction of the pupils (referred to as pinching of the pupils),
  • slow heart rate,
  • drop in blood pressure,
  • disturbance of consciousness (which can even take the form of a coma),
  • pale skin,
  • lowering body temperature.

Symptoms of ecstasy overdose

Ecstasy is an amphetamine derivative available in tablet form. Conditions that suggest an ecstasy overdose may include:

  • drop in blood pressure,
  • acceleration of activity and heart rhythm disturbances,
  • a significant increase in body temperature, which (especially incombined with increased physical activity) may promote deep dehydration,
  • convulsions,
  • coma,
  • psychomotor agitation,
  • severe anxiety, which may turn into a panic attack,
  • szczękościsk.

Symptoms of marijuana overdose

In the case of marijuana, there is disagreement as to whether it is actually possible to overdose on the drug. This is because the lethal dose of marijuana is almost 35 times greater than the lethal dose of cocaine. Although the use of marijuana in excess theoretically does not pose a threat to life, in people who use it in too much, some ailments may appear, such as :

  • significant dryness in the mouth,
  • accelerated heartbeat,
  • dizziness,
  • sleepiness,
  • drop in blood pressure.

Symptoms of cocaine overdose

Cocaine belongs to the so-called psychostimulants. Symptoms of cocaine overdose can be:

  • increased heart rate, abnormal heart rhythm,
  • increase or decrease in blood pressure,
  • sweating,
  • nausea,
  • vomiting,
  • chills,
  • convulsions,
  • significant psychomotor agitation,
  • pupil dilation,
  • delirium,
  • severe anxiety,
  • chest pain.

An overdose of cocaine can even lead to serious complications such as heart attacks, intracranial hemorrhages, and kidney failure.

Symptoms of amphetamine overdose

Amphetamine, like cocaine, is a powerful psychostimulant. An amphetamine overdose may manifest as:

  • strong psychomotor agitation,
  • disturbed heart rhythm,
  • increased body temperature,
  • convulsions,
  • abdominal pain,
  • increase in blood pressure,
  • significant muscle stiffness,
  • dry mouth.

As with cocaine poisoning, an amphetamine overdose can result in a heart attack or an intracranial haemorrhage.

First aid in drug overdose

Follow all general first aid measures when giving treatment to someone who has overdosed on drugs.

Before taking any action, make sure that you are not in any danger. When we come across someone who has possibly had a drug overdose, we should look around. If you notice suspicious-looking substances,which may be psychoactive substances, it would be best to hide them and pass them on to medical staff at a later time. Such material can be used to analyze what exactly the patient has poisoned, and such knowledge will allow to implement appropriate treatment regarding the overdose of a given substance.

If a drug overdose patient is conscious, we should try to calm him down. Hyperactivity may make the patient dangerous not only to himself, but also to his environment - he may then have problems with controlling his own behavior.

It is not worth discussing or persuading someone who has overdosed on drugs that addiction is harmful to their he alth. Such behavior can contribute to aggressive behavior - the best thing in the case of first aid after drug overdose is to remain calm and adopt a neutral attitude.

Uunconscious peoplebasic procedure includes assessment of vital functions. Check that the patient is breathing and that you can feel the pulse. If there is no breathing, start artificial respiration and compress the chest (in accordance with the principles of resuscitation, the scheme based on two rescue breaths followed by 30 chest compressions should be repeated). Keep doing this until the patient starts to breathe. If there is no response, resuscitation should continue until qualified medical assistance arrives at the scene.

It may also happen that the person who has overdosed on drugswill become unconscious , but breathing will be preserved. In such a situation, try to prevent choking. For this purpose, the patient should be placed in the recovery position, and then closely monitored until the ambulance arrives.

Convulsions may be a symptom of drug overdose. In the event of such a situation, first of all, you should take care of the position of the patient's head - it should be stabilized in such a way as to avoid any injury. How to do it? The head can be tilted slightly to the side to allow saliva to drain freely from the mouth.

Category:

Psychology