With overdoses being the leading cause of death for Americans under 50, it is imperative that the dangers of drug overdoses — especially those involving an opioid — are understood.
Every single opioid can cause an overdose and some do so much faster than others.
Opioids that are injected into the vein work faster than those that are injected into a muscle, snorted or smoked. For example, when heroin is injected intravenously, the ‘high’ can be felt in under a minute, whereas it can take five to 10 minutes with other routes. The faster the opioid works, the greater the risk for overdose.
An overdose is not an isolated incident. If you overdose and are lucky to survive, that is not the end of it. Even if you don’t die this time, your brain, heart, lungs and kidneys can be severely damaged. In the event that an overdose does take place, here is what happens:
Shortly after taking the drug, you will feel your skin flush, which will be followed by a ‘high.’ At this point, the pupils will constrict, speech will become slurred, the body will go limp and the person will become exceptionally drowsy. If the dose is high enough to cause an overdose, the individual will become unconscious and their breathing will become erratic, slow or stop completely.
Opioids affect the central nervous system by activating receptors that produce euphoria and reduce pain but that also depress the respiratory system, which can make you stop breathing.
An individual suffering from an overdose will have pale, clammy skin and signs of hypoxia will be present, meaning their lips and fingertips will turn blue. Their pulse may be difficult to find or nonexistent. With no oxygen getting to the body, the heart goes into an irregular rhythm, which can lead to cardiac arrest and a stopping of the heart. With no blood being pumped to the brain, the brain becomes oxygen-starved and can only survive for four to six minutes. In the worst case scenario, if the overdose is not treated quickly with naloxone, or CPR is not performed, the brain will become damaged and the person will die.
Overdoses have varying degrees of severity. If the person did not stop breathing, they will be taken to the hospital, monitored until they recover, then given a discharge plan that includes follow up medical and addiction treatment.
If the person stopped breathing, but was revived, they would be taken to the hospital and be closely monitored in intensive care until they recover. They would also receive brain imaging, neurological testing, and a lot of other tests to ensure that there was no lasting damage from the overdose. If there is residual damage, specific treatments would be prescribed to address them.
If the person stopped breathing for a significant period of time, the subsequent brain and other organ damage could be irreversible. Their motor skills may be affected as well as their coordination, mood and memory; they could suffer spasms for the rest of their lives or develop a staggering gait. They could need heart medications, a pacemaker or kidney dialysis. Their ability to care for themselves and to live a healthy, productive life could be challenging. In severe cases, an overdose can lead to such extensive heart, kidney or liver damage that the only remedy is transplantation.
In addition, the use of IV drugs exponentially increases the chances of contracting HIV, hepatitis B, and hepatitis C.
American Addiction Centers is committed to transforming lives before these negative effects take place. The treatment centers in Las Vegas, Desert Hope and Solutions Recovery, provide lifesaving, research-based and customizable treatment plans. With proper treatment and support, long-term recovery is possible.