Treating the Most Common Overdoses

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Treating the Most Common Overdoses

Drug overdose is a serious matter. Unfortunately, many adults and teens suffer from its slings. Usually drug overdose is a mask, hiding other problems: insecurity, self-loathing, a sense of failure, or deep and unabiding depression. These problems must also be addressed in order to prevent the “self-medication” so many drug addicts use from becoming a dangerous overdose. Here are the seven most common drugs that are used for “escape” and that can lead to overdoses. Recognize them and understand them. You could save a life.

Alcohol

We don't often think of liquor as a drug, but it is the most often abused drug of all. Whether excessive drinking results from a genetic problem, an emotional problem, or a combination of the two, there is help. That help might come in the form of Alcoholics Anonymous and other support groups or medication. But sometimes you don't have the luxury of time. Acute intoxication can occur when someone drinks too much in a short period of time; eventually his or her body becomes “toxic” with alcohol, and an overdose occurs. His or her body is literally poisoned by the alcohol.

Blood alcohol levels are used to gauge the amount of alcohol in the blood. If someone's blood alcohol level is high, it means that there is simply too much alcohol in the blood, and it's “crowding out” the life-sustaining fluids necessary for a person to function as an alert, thinking individual. High levels mean that a person should not drive; higher levels can lead to overdose.

Police consider the result of drinking more than two drinks in an hour to be dangerous. But many people can tolerate a great deal more alcohol before being close to an overdose. An alcoholic cannot gauge his or her drunkenness. But you can. You can bet that a person has too high a blood alcohol level if he exhibits a stumbling gait, flushed face and clammy skin, garbled speech, sleepwalking, or erratic mood swings. All are signs that the person has had more than enough—definitely too much to drive home.

How can you tell if someone who has drank alcohol needs medical attention? Call for help if the person's skin is very clammy and cold, if he or she is unconscious, if the pulse is very irregular and faint, or if the breathing becomes labored. If you suspect that someone has overdosed on alcohol, proceed with these steps:

  1. Call for help. In the meantime, don't try to reason with him or her because intoxication can make people violent. Instead try to be reassuring.
  2. Try to wake the intoxicated person. Acute intoxication can cause people to fall asleep where they lie. It can also cause unconsciousness. If you cannot awaken the person, call for emergency help.
  3. Check the person's breathing. If it is irregular, place the person on his or her side to keep airways clear. This also prevents choking in the event of vomiting.
  4. Check his or her pulse. If it is weak, rapid, or irregular, call for emergency help. Perform mouth-to-mouth resuscitation if necessary.
  5. Observe the intoxicated person's skin. If it is clammy, cold, and pale, cover him or her with a loose blanket while you wait for help.

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First Aids

Antidepressants combat a chemical imbalance in the brain that causes clinical depression. When combined with psychotherapy, these medications can prevent self-destructive habits. They stop depression and they prevent overdoses because a person loses the need to “self-medicate” himself.

Depressants: Quaaludes, Sedatives, and So On

These are the other “depressants” that actually slow the body down to such an extent that they can kill. For example, Phenobarbital and barbiturates are extremely dangerous, especially when mixed with alcohol. They are not regularly prescribed and are considered “street drugs.” Depressants are “downers.” Take too many of these and you'll feel even more depressed—and in danger of overdosing. An overdose of depressants brings on unconsciousness, which rapidly becomes a full-fledged coma. If the victim is not rushed to a hospital for a stomach pump, he or she can die.

Hallucinogens Such as LSD and Herbal Ecstasy

Hallucinogens are also street drugs that are not ever prescribed. LSD (or acid), PCP (angel dust), mescaline, ecstasy, and some types of mushrooms can all cause hallucinations and a good or bad “trip.” People under the influence of these seem far away. They might talk to invisible people or objects, or they might babble. And if they have a bad trip, they might act paranoid, alternately screaming and acting catatonic. Perception, sensation, thought, emotion, and self-awareness are all skewed.

If someone overdoses on an hallucinogen, she might believe herself to be omnipotent. The person can get physically hurt as she attempts to fly or to walk through fire or do whatever the mind is portraying. If you suspect someone is on a bad trip, follow these steps:

  1. Calm the person down. Be reassuring and keep your voice low as you try to keep him or her from physical harm.
  2. Try to talk the person “down” from the scary place in his or her mind's eye. Make sure the surroundings are safe and familiar.
  3. Take the person to a hospital. If you can get someone to help you, all the better. Two people are better than one in emergencies. If the victim is violent, resists help, or attacks you, call 911 immediately.

Inhalants Such as Glue and “White-Out”

Unfortunately, teenagers today are trying a new kind of high: chemical inhalants such as airplane glue, paint, kerosene, gas, nail polish, and lighter fluid. Although they might get high, they also get sick. Earlier, you learned about the dangers of inhaled chemical fumes. If you find someone to be ill from ”inhaling” (also called “huffing” or “sniffing”), follow this course of treatment:

  1. Call for emergency medical help immediately.
  2. Remove the inhalant and any accompanying apparatus (such as cotton balls, straws, or soaked paper bags) from the area of the person's mouth and nose.
  3. Check breathing. If necessary, perform mouth-to-mouth resuscitation (or CPR if you are trained to do so).
  4. Open windows to increase ventilation of fresh air.
  5. If the person is unconscious, cover him or her with a loose blanket and treat for shock.

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Not a New Dance

Autoasphyxiation has been around for a while, picked up by teens as they become interested in sex. It involves choking or strangling yourself or a friend with a cord or a rope to the point of near unconsciousness. It is used in sex acts and in masturbation, particularly among teenage boys. The resulting “high” comes from the adrenaline rush combined with decreased delivery of oxygen to the brain. Because the rope is usually hung from, say, a shower stall or a light fixture, several teenagers have died by accidentally going too far. They fainted or were strangled when they couldn't release the knot.

Signs of autoasphyxiation use include bruises and red marks around the neck. As a parent, you might also watch out for ropes and other unusual equipment in a teen's room, an unusual amount of time spent in the bathroom, and withdrawal from family and friends.

First aid treatment for this is difficult unless you catch the person in the act. He or she must be taken down from the hanging position immediately and taken to the emergency ward. But, because this practice is usually performed when parents aren't home, you might not know about it until it is too late. Therefore, the best first aid is prevention. If you have any reason to suspect that your child is playing around with this, contact an intervention hotline or seek a therapist. Your teen will need help before it is too late.

Stimulants: Amphetamines, Cocaine, and So On

As the word implies, stimulants are drugs that act as direct opposites of depressants. They stimulate the mind—at least initially—and ward off sleepiness. They are also highly addictive and have ruined the lives of many people who have started snorting or popping them. The most common stimulants are amphetamines, “speed,” crack, “CAT” (crystal methamphetamine), and cocaine.

Early signs of stimulant use include overconfidence, extreme energy, euphoria, and excessive talking. After only a few days, addiction sets in. The symptoms include:

Confusion and paranoia Delusion Violent and aggressive behavior Anxiety attacks that mimic heart attacks Antisocial actions  

Because of stimulants' addictive nature, over time a person needs more and more of the drug to get high. As a result, stimulant overdoses are seen quite often in the emergency room.

Follow these steps if you think someone has overdosed on cocaine or another stimulant:

  1. Immediately call for emergency help.
  2. Try to prevent the person from hurting him or herself.
  3. Be calm and reassuring. Talk in a low voice.
  4. If the person is lying down and is shaking or unconscious, turn him or her to the side to keep airways clear and to prevent him or her from choking on vomit.
  5. Loosen clothing.
  6. Loosely place a warm blanket over the person.

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Tranquilizers Such as Valium, Halycon, and Librium

Before You Put the Band-Aid On

Sometimes drug withdrawal can mimic drug overdose. If someone has abruptly stopped taking medication or has stopped drinking, it is possible that he or she will exhibit the same signs as with an overdose (rapid pulse, disorientation, clammy skin, and more). If these symptoms occur, take the person to a hospital to ensure that he or she receives the right type of care.

There was a time when doctors prescribed Valium for almost everything. Tranquilizers are still used to help people who suffer from panic attacks, anxiety, and insomnia. Unfortunately, they can become addictive and must be carefully monitored. Tranquilizers are considered a controlled substance, and prescriptions can only be filled a certain number of times each year. If someone overdoses on tranquilizers, he or she will fall asleep and will eventually become unconscious. Follow these steps if you suspect a tranquilizer overdose:

  1. Call for help immediately. The person's stomach must be pumped.
  2. Try to keep the victim up and moving around. Do everything you can to prevent him or her from falling asleep before help arrives.

Narcotics Such as Heroin and Opium

These are the most deadly drugs of all. Highly addictive and highly dangerous to the body, narcotics include opium and its derivatives, morphine and codeine, heroin, Demerol, and methadone. Because narcotics are not regulated, it's difficult to inject a safe amount, and overdoses happen frequently. Symptoms of a narcotics overdose include:

Lethargy Contracted pupils (to pinpoints) Profuse sweating Clammy skin Low temperature Muscle relaxation Weak pulse Weak breathing Sleep, leading to a coma  

To treat an overdose of narcotics, follow these steps:

  1. Call for help immediately.
  2. Try to rouse the person who has overdosed, slapping his cheek gently if necessary.
  3. If the victim is lying down, turn him to the side to keep airways clear and to prevent choking if he begins to vomit.
  4. Don't show your anger or dismay—at least right now. Instead, reassure the victim as you wait for help to arrive.

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