What to Expect if Someone Overdoses on Narcotics

Get Help Now 800-934-1582 Sponsored

Why Narcotics Are So Dangerous

Although some narcotics, such as prescription pain medications, are legally prescribed in safe dosages, others that are obtained illegally, such as heroin, are often combined with other chemicals that could cause more harm than the narcotic. If a person takes prescription painkillers illegally or abuses their current dosage, they could cause permanent damage to many of their organs.

Although prescription pain medications were initially at the forefront of the opioid epidemic in the early 2000’s, currently, illegal synthetic opioids are more frequently misused. According to the National Center for Drug Abuse Statistics, 13.8 million (4.8%) of people aged 12 and older abuse prescription medications and 7.6 million of prescription drug abusers are addicted.  However, Fentanyl overdoses outpace prescription opioid overdoses by 458.7%.

Narcotics are extremely potent drugs that depress a person’s respiratory system as well as their nervous system. If a person takes too much of the drug, they can experience respiratory failure, slip into a coma, or have cardiac arrest, which could lead to their death. It is possible for a person to overdose on narcotics and not even realize it, because of the analgesic properties of narcotics.

What to Expect if Someone Overdoses on Narcotics

Extreme sedation is a sign of a narcotics overdose.

If a person overdoses on narcotics, they need immediate medical help so that they do not experience respiratory failure. If an individual believes that another person is overdosing on a narcotic drug, they should dial 911 or take them to the nearest emergency room immediately. Home remedies to reverse a narcotic overdose are not effective. When Narcan is readily available, it can be administered immediately and then the person can be taken to the emergency room.

During a narcotic drug overdose, a person becomes extremely sedated, often quickly, since the drug enters a person’s system rapidly. Therefore, overdose symptoms can occur quickly. A person’s eyes may roll back in their head when they are having an overdose and they have an extremely difficult time focusing. They also become unresponsive to questions. Watch for the following symptoms and call emergency services immediately if they appear:

• Blue or purple fingernails and lips
• Unresponsive to voice or touch
• Very small pupils (also known as pinpoint)
• Slow, irregular, or stopped breathing
• Slow heartbeat or low blood pressure
• Pale, clammy skin
• Difficulty walking, talking or staying awake
• Dizziness and confusion
• Extreme drowsiness
• Choking, gurgling or snoring sounds
• Weakness or limp limbs
• Vomiting

Signs and Symptoms of Narcotics Overdose

When you take more narcotics than your body can process, you will experience a potentially-fatal overdose. Signs include dizziness, nausea, trouble breathing, and heart rate changes.

When a person overdoses on a narcotic, breathing becomes much slower and their heart rate will drastically decrease. If a person’s heart rate continues to decrease, it could lead to cardiac arrest. If their breathing continues to slow down, it could lead to respiratory failure. In both circumstances, the result is death if help is not received in time.

When a person overdoses on a narcotic and receives medical help, the doctor often places them on a breathing machine until the risk of respiratory failure has past and provides them with medication to stop the drugs from functioning properly in their body. Most patients will be able to leave within a day’s time if no permanent damage occurred from the overdose.

Call  800-934-1582(Sponsored) now to find a treatment program that can help you or a loved one overcome narcotics addiction. 

Narcotics.com is user supported. We receive a commission fee from purchases made through BetterHelp links. Learn More