{"id":16591,"date":"2021-11-16T00:00:00","date_gmt":"2021-11-16T00:00:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/1millionbestdownloads.com\/condition-opioid-use-disorder-opioid-overdose-symptoms\/"},"modified":"2021-11-16T00:00:00","modified_gmt":"2021-11-16T00:00:00","slug":"condition-opioid-use-disorder-opioid-overdose-symptoms","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/1millionbestdownloads.com\/condition-opioid-use-disorder-opioid-overdose-symptoms\/","title":{"rendered":"8 Opioid Overdose Symptoms, and What to Do If You Suspect That Someone Has ODed"},"content":{"rendered":"
Opioids are available as prescriptions like oxycodone and hydrocodone, synthetics like fentanyl, and illegally as heroin. While each opioid comes with its own side effects, they all have one thing in common: the risk of overdose. Would you know the signs and symptoms of opioid overdose if you saw them?<\/p>\n
"Fatal opioid overdoses have been increasing <\/a>in recent years," Ashley McGee<\/a>, RN, the vice president of nursing at Mountainside treatment center, based in Connecticut, tells Health<\/em>. "In light of this, knowing the signs and symptoms of opioid addiction and overdose is especially crucial and could save a life." <\/p>\n RELATED:<\/strong> 14 Symptoms of Opioid Withdrawal—and What to Know About Breaking Your Addiction<\/a><\/p>\n Understanding opioid overdose symptoms is critical, but knowing potential overdose causes may prevent the dangerous event from ever occurring. According to McGee, an opioid overdose happens when a person's body "cannot process the opioid quickly enough."<\/p>\n Michael Damioli<\/a>, LCSW, the clinical director at Colorado Medication Assisted Recovery in Thornton, Colorado, says a person is more likely to experience an overdose if they quickly ingest a powerful opioid, such as fentanyl or heroin. The presence of fentanyl is also being regularly found in other illegally purchased drugs and can be lethal, reports the Food and Drug Administration<\/a> (FDA).<\/p>\n The World Health Organization<\/a> describes several factors that can put people at risk of opioid overdose, including:<\/p>\n Previous overdoses make a person more likely to overdose, as can using opioids again after a break, says Damioli. "If someone abstains from opioid use for a period of time and then begins to use again, such as a person in addiction recovery who has a relapse, they are at high risk of overdose as their body has lost the tolerance to opioids and they accidentally use a higher heroin dose than they mean to," Damioli tells Health<\/em>.<\/p>\n According to the US National Library of Medicine<\/a> (NLM), being over 65 also increases a person's odds of an opioid overdose.<\/p>\n Damioli adds that psychological conditions such as anxiety or severe stress may also raise a person's risk of overdose.<\/p>\n RELATED:<\/strong> <\/a>Drug Overdose Deaths Hit 'Chilling' Numbers in 2020 Amid COVID-19 Pandemic, According to CDC Data<\/a><\/p>\n When opioids overwhelm the body, a cascade of events can occur, says Pittsburgh-based UPMC<\/a>. These changes can potentially impact the heart, lungs, blood, and brain. Here's what to look for:<\/p>\n Changes in skin tone may signal a lack of oxygen, per UPMC. It's often the lips and fingertips where these skin changes first appear, according to the American Psychological Association<\/a> (APA). The body may continue to turn blue as oxygen fails to reach different bodily symptoms, says Damioli.<\/p>\n Darker-skinned individuals tend to exhibit grayish or ashen skin, while people with lighter skin may appear to turn blue or purple, says the National Harm Reduction Coalition<\/a>.<\/p>\n A person's skin may be clammy to the touch or even pale, says the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention<\/a> (CDC). You might notice these changes in the person's face, says the NLM<\/p>\n Pay attention to these sounds. They're another sign of opioid overdose, also known as the "death rattle," says the National Harm Reduction Coalition. Vomiting can occur as well.<\/p>\n Someone who's overdosing on opioids may be conscious but unable to respond, or the person may lose consciousness, says the APA.<\/p>\n When taken in excess, opioids can interfere with receptors between the brain and the heart, explains UPMC. This can cause a person's pulse to slow down or stop.<\/p>\n UPMC explains that an opioid overdose can depress respiratory function, causing a person's breathing to become slow and shallow or erratic—or to cease altogether. <\/p>\n Another common sign of opioid overdose: the person's body goes limp.<\/p>\n The CDC points out that a person experiencing opioid overdose may have very small, or pinpoint-sized, pupils. <\/p>\n All of these signs can classify as potential opioid overdose death symptoms, but if a person has limited to no breath or blood pressure, it can mean organ failure and possible death is coming, say Damioli.<\/p>\n RELATED:<\/strong> <\/a>How to Help Someone You Love Who Struggles With Addiction—5 Expert Tips<\/a><\/p>\n As McGee explains, an overdose doesn't have to cause death. A person taking time to learn all the opioid overdose symptoms may save their own or someone else's life. <\/p>\n Once a person understands the risks and signs of an overdose, what's left is arguably the most crucial part: intervening if a person is exhibiting opioid overdose symptoms.<\/p>\n Here's what to do:<\/p>\n The very first thing to do is have yourself or another person present call emergency services to ensure they receive care as fast as possible. <\/p>\n "Even mild overdoses can have severe effects on someone's long-term health, and what might appear as a mild overdose can often quickly turn severe and fatal," says Damioli. Don't let fear of repercussion stop you from potentially saving someone's life. <\/p>\n As Damioli explains, "Most states have 'Good Samaritan' laws in place where if you alert the authorities to an overdose that you will not be held legally liable for also having or using drugs."<\/p>\n Commonly known by the brand name Narcan, naloxone<\/a> is an opioid antagonist that temporarily reverses or stops the effect of opioids, per the NIDA<\/a>. It is administered through a nasal spray (typical for non-clinicians) or injection. It is typically available over the counter, as a prescription, or at a local harm reduction center. <\/p>\n Make sure the overdosing individual still receives medical attention, even if you give them naloxone, says McGee. As NIDA points out, the emergency medication may work for as little as 30 and no more than 90 minutes—at which point the overdose may return. <\/p>\n Some opioid overdoses may also require more than one dose of naloxone, which a medical professional can determine. If multiple people are on the scene, one person should immediately administer naloxone while another person calls 911.<\/p>\n RELATED:<\/strong> 9 Things You Should Never Say to Someone in Recovery—and What to Say Instead<\/a><\/p>\n When someone is experiencing an opioid overdose, their breath may slow or stop altogether. While waiting for medical attention, they may need assistance breathing. <\/p>\nWhat causes an opioid overdose? <\/h2>\n
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What are the signs and symptoms of opioid overdose? <\/h2>\n
Blue or purplish-black lips or fingernails <\/h3>\n
Cold, clammy skin <\/h3>\n
Gurgling, snorting, or choking sounds <\/h3>\n
Difficulty waking or speaking <\/h3>\n
Slow or no heart rate <\/h3>\n
Slow or no breathing <\/h3>\n
Limp body <\/h3>\n
Pinpoint pupils <\/h3>\n
What can I do if someone is overdosing on opioids? <\/h2>\n
Call 911 <\/h3>\n
Administer naloxone <\/h3>\n
Perform rescue breathing <\/h3>\n