Hospital, she’s seen opioid overdoses grow in relation to other drugs over the past five years to the point that she sees an overdose every shift she works. According to a study published in July in JAMA Network Open, as of 2021, accidental opioid overdoses caused 1 of every 22 U.S. deaths. Opioid overdoses were responsible for 1 in 10 deaths of people ages 15 to 19 and more than 1 in 5 deaths among those ages 20 to 39. Accidental overdoses tend to happen when people take more of a prescription medication than originally intended or use too much of an illegal drug trying to get a better high. Intentional overdoses are usually a result of someone trying to commit suicide. Regardless of the intent, any loss of life due to overdose is tragic, and an overdose can have severe and lasting repercussions.
- “Our Denver public librarians save lives with naloxone on a regular basis. Both my teenage kids carry naloxone in their school bags, just in case.”
- One of the most effective strategies for preventing overdoses has been the use of Narcan, also known as Naloxone.
- And various substances aside from fentanyl — both legal and illegal — can cause symptoms like drowsiness and sedation.
- Police officers, emergency medical technicians and first responders carry and have training on how to give naloxone.
- The Opioid Epidemic within the US has resulted in multiple waves of public health initiatives to spread awareness of Opioid overdoses as well educating others on ways to help in case of emergency.
Opioid overdose can cause seizures from lack of oxygen to the brain. Brain damage–from mild to severe–is not often discussed with opioid overdose but is a real possibility. Your heart rate slows as the opioid suppresses neurological signals. 50 substance abuse group therapy activities for recovery The oxygen level falls low enough that the heart starts having abnormal rhythms; the heart is not beating properly. And television really does present a skewed view of forensic toxicology testing, he and other experts agree.
Using pills alone or without a prescription
The body adapts to the drug, and the person must take higher doses to feel the same effect. All opioids are capable of causing life-threatening overdose symptoms, but some opioids are riskier than others. An opioid overdose can happen when a person takes too much of an opioid or a combination of opioids and other cocaine withdrawal symptoms going through cocaine detox substances, such as alcohol, sedatives or stimulants. “Too much” varies from person to person depending on their opioid tolerance and the potency (strength) of the opioid they’re using. If you’re unsure of the protections, it’s always good to check with your local and state government long before a crisis happens.
How Much Fentanyl Causes an Overdose?
Upon activating, the receptors change the behavior of cells in ways that can slow or even stop breathing. Enter your phone number below to receive a free and confidential call from a treatment provider.
Another common myth is that drug distributors are lacing Halloween candy with dangerous drugs like fentanyl. However, while fentanyl overdoses are on the rise, so are the sensationalist myths about how these overdoses happen and who they can affect. “A lot of these patients have healthy hearts,” said Amirshahi, who also is an emergency medicine physician at MedStar Washington Hospital Center and a medical toxicologist for the National Capital Poison Center.
Some of the symptoms of a fentanyl overdose are nonspecific, which means that they can be caused by something other than an overdose. With fentanyl patches, the medication takes hours to be absorbed through the skin, which significantly reduces the risk of overdose. But even if someone was to have topical contact with illicit fentanyl, the risk of overdose is still extremely low, as it would take hours of constant exposure to reach a potentially lethal dose. One of the reasons that opioids can be dangerous is because, when at higher doses, they can depress the respiratory system — leading to decreased breathing and, in turn, death.
People with opioid addiction tend to have high tolerances to opioids, such as oxycodone or heroin. An opioid overdose happens when opioids excessively stimulate the part of your brain that regulates breathing. This leads to respiratory depression (ineffective breathing) and can cause death if it isn’t treated in time.
What is an Overdose?
Overdose-related deaths have increased by 31% from 2019 to 2020, highlighting an alarming spike in what are otherwise preventable deaths. If you or someone you know has a substance use disorder, it is imperative that you understand what overdose is and how to recognize the symptoms of one so you can prevent any further harm and potentially save a life. In both 2021 and 2022, rates were highest for American Indian and Alaska Native people and lowest among Asian people. Between 2021 and 2022, rates of drug overdose deaths increased for most race and Hispanic-origin groups. Rates decreased for White and Native Hawaiian or Other Pacific Islander people, although the decrease among Native Hawaiian or Other Pacific Islander people was not significant. Their regular non-medical use, prolonged use, misuse and use without medical supervision can lead to opioid dependence and other health problems.
Below, we’ll discuss the truth and clear up myths about how fentanyl overdoses happen, including symptoms to watch out for and how to help someone who may be having an overdose. Lavonas said that in his emergency room, most of the overdose patients he treats have been rescued by someone who was trained in naloxone and had it on hand. “Unfortunately, some people who use opioids by themselves, or use opioids where someone’s not there to help, don’t survive to see me.” Although primarily available in large medical centers, he said, it’s saving lives. Earlier this summer, Lavonas helped take care of a young woman who had overdosed on an antidepressant. People who have had an overdose have a higher risk of having another, so the recovery process must involve steps to address the behavior that led to the overdose.
Warning signs of a deadly overdose include cold skin, blue fingernails and no response to pain. If you see anyone experiencing any symptoms of a fentanyl overdose, call 911 immediately. The main cause of death from an opioid overdose is respiratory failure (you stop breathing). This happens because the opioids negatively affect the part of your brain that’s responsible for breathing. In a hospital setting, healthcare providers order drug tests to diagnose opioid overdose.
If this is the case, a person should take these symptoms very seriously. If you think you or someone you may know is experiencing an overdose, the best thing you can do is treat it like an emergency. Afterward, you may experience many complicated emotions about the overdose, how you reacted, and what to do to prevent future overdoses. Know that medical and mental health community support is available, and you don’t need to go through this alone.