Dangers of Drug Overdose
Learn more about drug overdose, the serious health consequences, and how a drug overdose can be avoided and prevented.
What is an Overdose?
Hazards due to an overdose of drugs emerge when people consume more medication than their bodies can fully break down, regardless of whether the drug is legal. A person using a legal or illegal drug can experience an overdose of a drug taken for a medical reason or recreationally, and an overdose can be accidental or intentional.
How Does Drug Overdose Happen?
An overdose happens when a toxic quantity of a substance or medicine is consumed. It is crucial to remember that not all overdoses are fatal or life-threatening; however, if an overdose is suspected or has happened, medical help should always be sought.
Dangers of Drug Overdose
A stimulant or alcohol overdose might result in seizures. Seizures can cause injuries by striking body parts against the ground or other objects, but they can also cause brief confusion, loss of consciousness, severe headaches, and brain damage.


How Long Does a Drug Overdose Last?
The duration of a drug overdose varies widely depending on the individual, what was taken, and how promptly they received medical assistance. For example, a person may overdose on alcohol and require stomach pumping. In this case, they may be back at home within a day, and their overdose will be finished.
While an overdose of drugs can be frightening, it does not always have to result in death. After an overdose, a person can still live a happy and healthy life, provided the situation is handled correctly.
What Does Overdosing Feel Like?
Overdoses are hazardous reactions that occur when the effects of a specific chemical exceed the brain and body’s usual working limitations. Severe types of these reactions can have fatal implications in many circumstances.
The particular effects of overdose-producing chemicals vary greatly, which means that the sensations experienced during an overdose episode are dependent on the type of substance that caused the reaction.
Signs And Symptoms Of Drug Overdose
The possibility of severe side effects, including overdose, is always present with drug usage. Addiction development will always be a risk whether you abuse alcohol, an illegal drug such as cocaine, or prescriptions prescribed by a doctor, such as opiate pills.
Dilated Pupils
Almost any substance taken in excess has the potential to induce alterations in the user's eyes. Depending on the type of drug used, different chemicals impact the parasympathetic, sympathetic, or both systems.
Unsteady Walking
Drug overdose can cause unsteady walking or injury to the legs, feet, joints, bones, muscles, blood vessels, and other soft tissues or the neurological system that governs the movements required for walking.
Chest Pain
Chest pain is conceivable and can be caused by injury to the heart or lungs. Shortness of breath is possible. Breathing might become quick, slow, deep, or shallow.
Difficulty Breathing
Opioids can cause respiratory difficulties due to their pharmacological effects, and an opioid overdose can result in mortality.
Blue Lips or Fingers
Lips and fingers turn blue when the body does not obtain enough oxygen. These are the warning indications of an overdose.
Nausea or Vomiting
It is possible to experience nausea, vomiting, abdominal pain, and diarrhea. Vomiting blood or passing blood in bowel movements are also possible.
Vomiting
Vomiting is another common overdose symptom, particularly in the case of an alcohol overdose. If the person is alone during the overdose, this can be dangerous. Sometimes, a person will vomit, choke while sleeping, and never wake up.
Abnormally high body temperature
Abnormal blood pressure is inevitable during a drug overdose, which will make all parts of your body work abnormally, which can also lead to a severe headache.
Violent or aggressive behavior
With excessive drug intake, a person can act irrational and aggressive.
Reasons for Drug Overdose
A drug overdose can occur by accident or it can be intentional. These overdose experiences will be detailed below.
Accidental Overdose
Intentional Overdose
Intentional overdoses are considered a kind of self-harm. The figures are significant despite accounting for a small proportion of drug-related mortality. It's also a shockingly prevalent act among teenagers across the world.
What Drugs Do People Overdose On?
Drugs people may overdose on include:
Long-Term Effects of an Overdose
Long-term effects of an overdose include:
Liver Damage
A pill overdose can permanently damage your liver, causing irreversible scarring of liver tissue (cirrhosis) and, in severe circumstances, leading to life-threatening liver failure.
Brain Damage
The frontal lobe is particularly vulnerable to injury from overdose-induced oxygen deprivation, which can impair executive function. They may struggle with planning, problem-solving, emotional control, organizing, and paying attention.
Damage to the Heart
Irregular heartbeats, heart attacks, and strokes can all be caused by drug misuse. Rising heart rate and blood pressure. Some medicines can also slow blood flow to the heart, which can cause the muscles and body to stop working.
Neurological Consequences
The risk of pharmaceutical overdose is quite real and should not be underestimated. When a person becomes reliant on medicine, they may begin using ever-greater doses of the medication to obtain the same results. This can lead to an overdose and neurological consequences.
Higher Risk of Developing Emotional and Mental Problems
When people are under the influence of alcohol or drugs, they develop substance-induced problems. Which can affect their mental and emotional state of mind.
Higher Risk of Drug Addiction
Taking an overdose drug can lead to drug addiction.


Risk Factors for Drug Overdose
Risk factors for drug overdose include:
How to Prevent or Avoid an Overdose
Ways to prevent or avoid an overdose include:
Get Help For Drug Overdose at San Diego Detox
After an overdose, the victim should get medical detox and therapy in a safe and supportive environment. Individualized counseling, group sessions, and other treatment options are available to assist individuals in understanding and learning from their overdose or addiction. If you are battling addiction and are thinking about detox or rehab, San Diego Detox is the best option.
Learn More About San Diego Detox
Our team is standing by to discuss your situation and options. Your call is fully confidential, and no obligation is required.
Resources
- https://www.betterhealth.vic.gov.au/health/healthyliving/drug-overdose
- https://oklahoma.gov/health/health-education/injury-prevention-service/drug-overdose/signs-and-symptoms-of-a-drug-overdose.html
- https://medlineplus.gov/ency/article/007287.htm
- https://www.healthdirect.gov.au/accidental-overdose-of-medicines