Trained doctors and medical professionals will treat the person who has overdosed as best they can if they need to be taken to the hospital. This will often involve giving medication and treatment to combat the adverse effects of the overdose and monitoring them closely to ensure they are medically stable.
Full Answer
How can healthcare providers treat drug overdoses?
General treatment strategies that healthcare providers may use include: The healthcare provider may be able to use an antidote for certain drug overdoses. For example, the drug naloxone can help reverse the effects of a heroin overdose. Drug overdoses can be prevented in many ways.
What do you do when an unresponsive patient has an overdose?
FIGURING OUT WHAT’S CAUSED A LIFE-THREATENING OVERDOSE in an unresponsive patient often involves detective work for hospitalists, plus some expert backup from a toxicologist. But even treating a common drug overdose “when the patient tells you what he took, when and how much “can be a challenge. Patients’ symptoms might not match what you expect.
How do you treat an opioid overdose?
For an adult, start adult CPR. The FDA has approved a prescription treatment that can be used by family members or caregivers to treat a person known or suspected to have had an opioid overdose. Opioids include various prescription pain medications and illicit street drugs.
When should I call for help if I overdose on drugs?
Do not wait for the drug to wear off; call for help right away. A drug overdose can be fatal or cause permanent damage to a person's organs.
How do you treat a patient with overdose?
Overdose treatment may include:Removal of drugs from your body – such as using activated charcoal.Administering an antidote (such as naloxone ) to reverse opioid overdose.
What are the 6 steps that should be done when you suspect that someone has overdosed on a substance?
How to respond to an overdose using NaloxoneCheck for signs of an overdose. Slowed or stopped breathing. ... Call 911. Call 911. ... Give Naloxone. Place tip into one nostril of person's nose. ... Give rescue breaths. Make sure mouth is clear. ... Stay until help arrives. Repeat Steps 3 and 4 until help arrives.
What is first aid for an overdose?
Don't leave the patient alone. It's never a good idea to leave someone alone who has overdosed on drugs. Stay with them, monitor their condition, and provide help as needed. You may need to leave the room momentarily to find the medication bottle or call for medical assistance, but don't stay out for long.
What does the hospital do when someone overdoses?
Most overdose situations will need an ambulance to be called, the person put in the recovery position (please see this NHS first aid guide), naloxone injected, and someone to stay with the affected person until professional help arrives. Naloxone works to reverse opioid overdose for only a short period of time.
How to help someone who has an overdose?
Step #2 Perform Rescue Breathing . A majority of overdose deaths are due to respiratory failure, so rescue breathing is crucial when dealing with an overdose. Tilt the head, lift the chin, and pinch the nose. Seal their lips and give two quick breaths into their mouth. Then give one long breath every five seconds .
Why do drug overdoses occur?
Too often, drug overdose deaths occur because a person is hesitant to call an ambulance due to a fear of police involvement. However, 20 states and Washington, D.C. have enacted Good Samaritan Laws to encourage seeking medical help.
What Actions Should You Take?
If you believe someone is suffering from alcohol poisoning or stimulants, call 911 immediately. Home intervention will be inadequate in these cases.
How to inject naloxone into a syringe?
Screw the naloxone cartridge into the barrel of the syringe. Tilt head back and spray half of the naloxone (1cc) into each nostril. Injectable Naloxone: Pry the orange top off the naloxone vial. Draw 1cc of naloxone into syringe and inject into a major muscle (buttocks, thighs or shoulders).
What is narcan in medicine?
Naloxone (Narcan) is a life-saving drug that reverses the depressing effects of opiates on the central nervous system. Naloxone kits are available in two forms: intranasal and injectable.
What happens if you overdose on Xanax?
When an overdose occurs, the victim runs a significant risk of respiratory failure, which could lead to a coma, permanent brain damage and death.
How many drug overdose deaths in 2013?
Drug overdoses are now the leading cause of accident death in the United States. According to the Centers of Disease Control (CDC), 43,982 drug overdose deaths occurred in 2013 across the nation. That’s two times the amount of overdose deaths a decade ago.
What to do if someone has an opioid overdose?
Call 911 if the person has: 1. Begin CPR, if Necessary. For a child, start CPR for children. For an adult, start adult CPR. The FDA has approved a prescription treatment that can be used by family members or caregivers to treat a person known or suspected to have had an opioid overdose.
What is the FDA approved treatment for opioid overdose?
The FDA has approved a prescription treatment that can be used by family members or caregivers to treat a person known or suspected to have had an opioid overdose. Opioids include various prescription pain medications and illicit street drugs.
How to treat a person who has no symptoms?
2. Contact Poison Control. Call Poison Control at 800-222-1222 (in U.S.) even if the person has no symptoms. Poison Control experts will advise you how to proceed. Do not try to make the person vomit or give the person anything to eat or drink. 3.
How does Evzio work?
Evzio ( naloxone hydrochloride injection) rapidly delivers a single dose of the drug naloxone via a hand-held auto-injector that can be carried in a pocket or stored in a medicine cabinet. Although Evzio can counter overdose effects within minutes, professional medical help is still needed. 2. Contact Poison Control.
What to do if you suspect someone has overdosed?
Shallow or slow breathing. Blue lips and blue fingertips. Clammy skin. 2. Call 911. If you suspect someone has overdosed, call 911 immediately and try to help the person onto his or her side to prevent choking.
What are the symptoms of an opioid overdose?
1. Look for Symptoms. Here are some of the most common symptoms of an overdose: Unresponsive or unconscious. Gasping, snoring, or no breathing at all.
How to contact a person who is addicted to naloxone?
If you are someone you know is suffering from a substance abuse disorder, please call the Get Help Now Hotline at 1-800-662-HELP (4357) for more information about treatment resources.
Who can administer naloxone?
Emergency personnel, a family member, friend, or stranger can administer naloxone.
What information to share with 911 after requesting an ambulance?
Key information to share with 911 after requesting an ambulance: Your exact location. Your phone number so they can call you back if the call drops, along with any visible drugs or alcohol that may be contributing to the overdose.