OVERDOSE.

What is an overdose?

An overdose happens when a toxic amount of a drug or a combination of drugs causes a severe adverse reaction.

This can happen because too much is taken or because of mixing different substances. This includes alcohol.

Combining drugs increases the chances of overdose.

Types of Overdose

Different substances / types of substances and their overdose symptoms.

Stimulant Overdose

Stimulants include: Methamphetamine or ice, and Amphetamines incl. dexamphetamine or speed, Cocaine, Caffeine, etc.

Some signs of a stimulant drug overdose are:

increase in body temperature/overheating
muscle cramps/ spasms /headaches
chest pains/ heart attack
seizures
very large pupils
rapid/irregular pulse
rapid breathing/breathing problems
confusion
psychosis / delusions/ paranoia / hallucinations
overwhelming sense of dread

Depressant Overdose

Depressants include: Opioids incl. heroin, nitazenes*,oxycodone, codeine, methadone and buprenorphine, Benzodiazepines, Barbituates, Tranquilizers and Alcohol

Some signs of a depressant drug overdose are:

vomiting
being unresponsive, but awake
limp body
pale and/or clammy face
bluish fingernails and/or lips
shallow or erratic breathing,
or not breathing at all
slow or erratic pulse (heartbeat)
choking sounds or a gurgling noise
loss of consciousness
death

Psychadelic Overdose

Psychadelics include: LSD, psilocybin(magic mushrooms), DMT, 2C-b and other 2C analogues, Ayahuasca, Mescaline

Some of the perceived harms of psychedelics – for example, that they lead to addiction and are neurotoxic – are largely refuted by research of the past decades. Other risks, such as the risks of psychotic episodes or overdose, are rare and only reported in individual cases.

TO BE CONTINUED.

RECOGNISE
OVERDOSE SIGNS

OPIOID

APPEARANCE

•Clammy or cold skin
•Blue lips or nails
•Pinpoint pupils
•Body limp

ACTIONS

•Slow or no breaths
•Unusual snoring or gurgling
•Choking

CONSCIOUSNESS

•Can’t talk or walk
•Can’t stay awake
•Won’t wake up
•Unresponsive

LEARN ABOUT NALOXONE HERE

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The
Take Home Naloxone Program

The Take Home Naloxone (THN) Programs aim is to make the temporary opioid reversal medicine, naloxone, free and available without a prescription to people who are at risk of, or who may witness, an opioid overdose or adverse reaction. The 2022-23 Federal Budget included $19.6 million (over four years), for a national, ongoing THN Program.

The program was initially piloted in New South Wales, South Australia and Western Australia before being expanded to Victoria and the rest of the states from 1 July 2022..