Drug Overdose

Self Help 0247 2010

Drug Overdose

A drug overdose means taking more of one drug, or combining more drugs, than your body can safely handle. Many drugs can cause harm if used wrongly. This includes prescription medicines, over-the-counter medicines, herbal or natural remedies, alcohol and illegal drugs.

The main drugs involved in overdoses Stimulant drugs are central nervous system depressants, Stimulants speed up the central nervous stimulants and hallucinogens. system. They include: Depressant drugs • Amphetamines (speed, ice, shabu) Depressants slow down the central • Cocaine (coke, crack) nervous system. They include: • Ecstasy (E, XTC, eccy) • Heroin (smack, H) • Slimming tablets (e.g., Duromine) • Opioids (e.g., pethidine, morphine, • Ephedrine codeine, methadone) • Caffeine (e.g., coffee, tea, cola, • Cannabis (marijuana, pot, dope) energy drinks) • GHB (fantasy) • Nicotine. • Solvents and inhalants (glue) Hallucinogen drugs • Barbiturates Hallucinogens affect perception. • Benzodiazepines (benzos e.g., They include: Rohypnol, Valium, Serepax) • Ketamine (K, special K) • Alcohol (booze, grog). • LSD (trips, acid, microdots).

Self Care is a program of the Pharmaceutical Society of Australia. Self Care is committed to providing current and reliable health information. Who is at risk of condition. Naloxone can be given by overdose? ambulance officers. Narcan is a brand name for naloxone. The risk of an accidental overdose is higher with illicit drugs, because it is Self care and caring for impossible to be sure of the quality and others strength of the product being used. For safety, use only legally manufactured An overdose can happen just as easily and distributed drugs and use them only to an experienced drug user as to as directed and/or prescribed. If you an inexperienced user. In most cases choose to use drugs in other ways: of fatal overdose with drugs such as heroin, other drugs are found in the • Avoid combining drugs or combining blood stream at the same time. drugs with alcohol While too much of one drug can cause • Purchase from the same supplier death, the effects of a mixture of • Try a small dose first to test the drug drugs (a drug ‘cocktail’) can be equally strength and its effect on you dangerous and unpredictable. • Have other people around when you The same drug can affect different use, so help is near if needed. people in different ways, depending on: Tell someone what you are using • The tolerance of the user i.e. how • If you are injecting for the first time sensitive their body is to the drug, and or have not injected for a while, use a how often they’ve been using lower dose • Physical and emotional condition of • Always inject slowly the user. • Don’t share injecting equipment • The quantity of the drug taken • Some drugs (e.g., ecstasy) can raise • The mix of drugs used body temperature. If you are dancing or in a hot or crowded area, have • The way the drugs are used e.g., cool-down breaks and sip water injected, swallowed or inhaled. slowly and regularly Treating heroin/opioid • Learn first-aid skills such as overdose resuscitation (CPR) – others may need your help If a person has overdosed with heroin or other opioids, an injection of naloxone • Join an ambulance fund. Police do can reverse the effects of the opioid not automatically come when an immediately. Once the naloxone wears ambulance is called off (about 60 minutes) it is possible to slip back to the original overdose

To find your nearest Self Care pharmacy go to the pharmacy finder at www.psa.org.au Important • Stay with the person until professional help arrives If someone has overdosed • Explain to the ambulance crew (‘dropped’): what has happened and what • Phone Emergency 000 for you have done. If you have the an ambulance information, tell them what the • Check that the person’s airway is person has taken and how clear. If not, remove anything from long ago. the person’s mouth and extend the Note: If an ambulance comes, but is neck to open the airway not needed, the casualty will not have • Check breathing. If the person to pay for it. is not breathing, start mouth-to- Warning mouth resuscitation immediately If a person has overdosed, DO NOT • Check circulation by feeling for a pulse in the person’s neck • Put them in a bath – they might • If there is no pulse, start heart drown massage (CPR) immediately • Inject them with salty water, speed • If airway, breathing and circulation or other stimulants are OK, put the person in the • Give them tea, coffee or alcohol or recovery position on their side any other fluid • Loosen any tight clothing that • Make them vomit might restrict breathing • Leave them alone ‘to get over it’ • Keep the person comfortably warm • Try CPR if there is a pulse. with blankets or a coat

• If somebody who has used drugs appears to fall asleep, but you cannot wake them up, they may have overdosed and be unconscious – call an ambulance immediately.

To find your nearest Self Care pharmacy go to the pharmacy finder at www.psa.org.au Australian Injecting and Illicit Drug For more information Users League (AIVL) Phone: (02) 6279 1600 Website: www.aivl.org.au In an emergency phone 000 and ask for Healthdirect Australia an ambulance. If using a mobile phone Phone: 1800 022 222 out of range, dial 112. This will connect Website: www.healthinsite.gov.au even if there is no network coverage from your provider. Consumer Medicine Information (CMI) Your pharmacist can advise on Lifeline – 24hr counselling service CMI leaflets. Phone 13 11 14. National Prescribing Service (NPS) Alcohol and Drug Information Medicines Information Services (ADIS) Phone: 1300 MEDICINE (1300 633 424) Website: www.nps.org.au Australia-wide State-wide The Poisons Information Centre NSW (02) 9361 8000 1800 422 599 In case of poisoning phone 13 11 26 QLD (07) 3837 5989 1800 177 833 from anywhere in Australia.

WA (08) 9442 5000 1800 198 024 Pharmacists are medicines experts. NT (08) 89228399 1800 131 350 Ask a pharmacist for advice when choosing a medicine. SA (08) 83638618 1300 131 340

TAS 1800 811 994 Related fact cards VIC 1800 888 236 First Aid in the Home ACT (02) 6207 9977 Methadone and Buprenorphine Australian Drug Foundation Drug (website only – ask your Info Clearinghouse pharmacist) Counselling phone: 1800 888 236 Safer Injecting Practices DrugInfo phone: 1300 85 85 84 (website only – ask your Website: www.druginfo.adf.org.au. pharmacist)

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