Even after administering this medication, it is crucial to take anyone experiencing an opioid overdose to the emergency room. A drug overdose may occur when an individual consumes too much of a substance. Opioids, stimulants, and other substances can all cause an overdose. Responding quickly can help prevent serious health consequences. The fastest growing drug category among OD deaths is synthetic opioids, and many opioid deaths involve other drugs. The emergency and referral resources listed above are available to individuals located in the United States and are not operated by the National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA).
The risk of death for someone overdosing on opioids is worse than the risk of having a bad reaction to naloxone. To prevent an overdose, follow a doctor’s directions for all prescription medications. With the right care and prevention strategies, it is possible to treat drug overdoses or prevent them altogether. Opioids are a class of natural, semi-synthetic, and synthetic drugs that include both prescription medications and illegal drugs like heroin.
People who are given naloxone should be observed constantly until emergency care arrives. They should be monitored for another 2 hours after the last dose of naloxone is given to make sure breathing does not slow or stop. Research has found that pregnant women with untreated addiction may be less likely to get regular prenatal care.
Opioid Overdose Death Rates
- Treatment may involve therapy, certain medications, or rehabilitation programs.
- Addressing a substance use disorder can help decrease the chance of a drug overdose.
- While this is uncomfortable, it is usually not life threatening.
- But, naloxone has no effect on someone who does not have opioids in their system, and it is not a treatment for opioid use disorder.
Naloxone can quickly restore normal breathing to a person if their breathing has slowed or stopped because of an opioid overdose. But, naloxone has no effect on someone who does not have opioids in their system, and it is not a treatment for opioid use disorder. Examples of opioids include heroin, fentanyl, oxycodone (OxyContin®), hydrocodone (Vicodin®), codeine, and morphine. Although many drug overdoses involve the use of illegal drugs, it is also possible to overdose on prescription medication. Many doctors prescribe opioid medications for pain management.
This can raise their risk of serious or even deadly pregnancy complications. The following are some questions people frequently ask about drug overdose. Of course, moderating the consumption of alcohol and other substances can be challenging for individuals with a substance use disorder.
The drug naloxone (Narcan) can also help treat an opioid overdose by blocking opioids’ effects in the body. This medication is available in a nasal spray and as an intravenous injection at the hospital. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) indicate that 106,699 people died of a drug overdose in the United States in 2021.
- We must address the factors contributing to the fentanyl crisis on multiple fronts.
- Medications are the standard treatment for fentanyl addiction.32,33 Several medications have been approved by the U.S.
- Anyone noticing these or other symptoms should contact emergency services or seek immediate medical treatment.
- Therefore, one of the most important steps to take is to call 911 so the individual can receive immediate medical attention.
Quick Facts about Fentanyl
NIDA is a biomedical research organization and does not provide personalized medical advice, treatment, counseling, or legal consultation. Information provided by NIDA is not a substitute for professional medical care or legal consultation. Health professionals look at a person’s withdrawal symptoms and tolerance level, among other factors, to determine if a person has an opioid addiction—a severe opioid use disorder. Semi-synthetic opioids, such as heroin and the pain relievers oxycodone, hydrocodone, and oxymorphone, are made in laboratories by chemically processing natural opioids.
Drug Type
A doctor can help recognize the signs of drug overdose and provide treatment recommendations. A drug overdose means that an individual has consumed a toxic amount of a substance. According to the National Harm Reduction Coalition, ingesting too much of one or multiple drugs can harm the body.
How do opioids make people feel?
This can cause severe brain damage or death.6 This is what happens during an opioid overdose. Opioids are a class of drugs that include both prescription medicines such as morphine and illegal drugs like heroin. For example, overdosing on opioids adversely affects an individual’s ability to breathe. This lack of oxygen can cause organ damage, unconsciousness, and even Drug Overdose Facts death. It is important that more is done to prevent overdoses and deaths.
Addressing a substance use disorder can help decrease the chance of a drug overdose. Avoid combining prescription medications with other substances, such as alcohol. Do not share a prescription or take medications prescribed to another individual.
Families can ask their pharmacists or health care provider how to use the devices. Fentanyl is synthetic, which means it is made entirely in laboratories and has no natural ingredients. It was developed as a prescription medicine for treating severe pain, such as pain after surgery. Drug dependence occurs with repeated use, causing the neurons to adapt so they only function normally in the presence of the drug. The absence of the drug causes several physiological reactions, ranging from mild in the case of caffeine, to potentially life-threatening, such as with heroin.
It’s evident from these statistics that while fentanyl’s reach is devastatingly widespread, systemic inequities mean that some populations are bearing a heavier burden than others. For more information or to contact CDC, please visit the CDC’s Drug Overdose Deaths webpage. NIDA does not fund or assist in the collection of these data but does analyze NCHS data to create the figures and descriptions on this page.
States with the Highest Rates of Fentanyl Overdose Deaths
The appropriate number of pills depends on the person and their medication. After calling 911, stay with the individual experiencing an alcohol overdose. If they begin vomiting, help them lean forward so they do not choke. Alternatively, if they have lost consciousness, an individual can place them in the recovery position.
To prevent drug overdose from prescription medications, only take the prescribed dose. Follow a doctor or pharmacist’s directions for taking any prescription. Do not take additional doses to make up for any missed doses. The NIH Clinical Center (the research hospital of NIH) is open. For more details about its operating status, please visit cc.nih.gov. Updates regarding government operating status and resumption of normal operations can be found at opm.gov.
NIDA is supporting research for stronger formulations for use with potent opioids like fentanyl. A drug overdose can occur after an individual takes too much of a medication or substance. The leading cause of drug overdoses today is opioid medications. Stimulants, alcohol, and benzodiazepines can also lead to drug overdose. These and other life-saving measures can help reduce the long-term health effects of drug overdose.