This can lead to breathing difficulties, lowered heart rate, seizures, and loss of consciousness. It discusses what a drug overdose is, why it occurs, and how to prevent it. Overdose prevention is a CDC priority that impacts families and communities. Drug overdose is a leading cause of preventable death in the U.S. Additionally, we support the Drug-Free Communities (DFC) Program, which is the nation’s leading effort to support communities working to prevent youth substance use.
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.
- Research has found that pregnant women with untreated addiction may be less likely to get regular prenatal care.
- To avoid an alcohol overdose, avoid drinking excessive amounts of alcohol in a short time.
- To prevent drug overdose from prescription medications, only take the prescribed dose.
- There is a wide range of overdose death rates among the states; the highest concentration is located in the Northeast, straddling the Great Lakes and Mid-Atlantic regions.
- For more information on responding to an overdose with naloxone nasal spray, download What is Naloxone?
Drug addiction is a chronic disease characterized by compulsive, or uncontrollable, drug seeking and use despite harmful consequences and long-lasting changes in the brain. The changes can result in harmful behaviors by those who misuse drugs, whether prescription or illicit drugs. Anyone experiencing a substance use disorder should seek treatment to address their symptoms. Treatment may involve therapy, certain medications, or rehabilitation programs. The rate of deaths from drug overdose has increased steadily over the past couple of decades.
Drug overdose explained
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.
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.
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.
Substance Use and Military Life DrugFacts
This chronic condition involves the ongoing overuse of a substance. To avoid an alcohol overdose, avoid drinking excessive amounts of alcohol in a short time. Drinking a lot of alcohol in a short time (binge drinking) can rapidly increase the amount of alcohol in the blood. This makes it difficult for the body to remove alcohol from the bloodstream and can harm other body parts. Anyone receiving an opioid prescription should speak with their doctor to learn more about the risk of overdose. Combining different drugs can cause a particularly dangerous overdose.
Opioids
Because of this, it is possible for a person to still experience the effects of an overdose after a dose of naloxone wears off. Also, some opioids are stronger and might require multiple doses of naloxone. Therefore, one of the most important steps to take is to call 911 so the individual can receive immediate medical attention.
Natural opioids, such as morphine, codeine, opium, and thebaine are made from the seed pods of the opium poppy plant. Families with loved ones who struggle with opioid addiction should have naloxone nearby; ask their family member to carry it; and let friends know where it is. People should still call 911 immediately in the event of an overdose.
- This can include taking any amount of someone else’s medication or more than the doctor prescribed.
- A .gov website belongs to an official government organization in the United States.
- Patients with insurance should check with their insurance company to see if this medicine is covered.
- Additionally, we support the Drug-Free Communities (DFC) Program, which is the nation’s leading effort to support communities working to prevent youth substance use.
- Responding quickly can help prevent serious health consequences.
Medications for Opioid Use Disorder
Some chronic pain patients are dependent on opioids and require medical support to stop taking the drug. Recognizing the symptoms of a drug overdose is crucial to treating this reaction. Providing supportive care, administering medication such as naloxone, and calling 911 can all help treat certain types of drug overdose. Taking too many pills may lead to an overdose in some people. Symptoms of a drug overdose may include breathing difficulties, changes in heart rate or body temperature, seizure, stroke, and more. Anyone noticing these or other symptoms should contact emergency services or seek immediate medical treatment.
There are a range of treatments available for different kinds of drug overdose. Just as drug-related deaths aren’t always recorded as overdoses, some overdoses involve multiple drug types. More than four (4) times as many people died from drug overdose (OD) than from homicide in the first month of 2023. Opioid use, even as prescribed by a health care provider or only for a short time, can lead to negative health effects. In some states, you can get naloxone from a pharmacist even if your doctor did not write you a prescription for it. It is also possible to get naloxone from Drug Overdose Facts community-based distribution programs, local public health groups, or local health departments, free of charge.
Millions of Americans have successfully overcome both opioid and alcohol use problems. BetterHelp can connect you to an addiction and mental health counselor. This article utilizes the most up-to-date statistics available to provide an accurate picture of the fentanyl crisis in 2024. For some statistics, the most up-to-date information will be cut off in 2021. We’ll update this article as more up-to-date information becomes available.
What are opioids?
Prevention activities help educate and support individuals, families, and communities and are critical for maintaining both individual and community health. Pregnant people with untreated opioid use disorder who do not receive appropriate prenatal care are at increased risk of serious and potentially fatal pregnancy complications. All systems used by first responders deliver the stated dose of naloxone and can be highly effective in reversing an opioid overdose. Study findings released in March 2019 suggests that the FDA-approved naloxone devices deliver higher blood levels of naloxone than the improvised nasal devices.
Individuals experiencing a stimulant overdose should stay hydrated and cool. If they begin to have a seizure, ensure no harmful objects are close to them. For more information on responding to an overdose with naloxone nasal spray, download What is Naloxone? A .gov website belongs to an official government organization in the United States.
Overdosing on a stimulant such as cocaine increases heart rate, temperature, and blood pressure. This type of overdose can cause heart attacks, strokes, and seizures. This includes expanding access to treatment, harm reduction strategies, and interventions tailored to the hardest-hit states. While the paths to recovery can differ, understanding patterns of treatment, support services, and the duration of substance use offers valuable insights for helping others on their recovery journey. Medications for opioid use disorder are safe, effective, and save lives. Dependence can cause extremely unpleasant withdrawal symptoms if the person stops using it.
