Death due to overdose has decreased from its peak in 2023, but thousands continue to die and thousands more impacted as friends and families grieve. Many of these deaths might have been prevented if the user had sought help at a hospital when they needed it. Unfortunately, most people don’t recognize the signs that their body is slowly shutting down when they use drugs. Everyone should be aware of the telltale signs that something is very wrong, and you need to get to the hospital right away.

Heart Related Symptoms

Many drugs, both legal and illegal, have heart-related side effects. Unfortunately, it’s difficult to discern the point where these signs become life-threatening. Common signs that you need treatment for a heart related drug issue are:

• chest pain
• tightness in the chest or around the ribs
• irregular or pounding heartbeat
• pain radiating down the left arm
• back pain on the left side

These symptoms can happen gradually or suddenly, but they require immediate medical attention. If you suspect a heart related problem, go to the emergency room for treatment.

Breathing

Having a hard time breathing is a critical reason to go to the hospital and get immediate medical help. Many drugs cause respiratory failure and lead to death. The first sign of respiratory failure is difficulty breathing. If you can’t seem to catch your breath or feel as if you’re gasping for air, there’s a good chance your brain isn’t getting enough oxygen from your lungs. If this happens, lasting damage may result to your brain and internal organs.

Loss of Consciousness or Blackout

In any situation, losing consciousness or blacking out is dangerous. Blacking out is a clear sign of overdose. If someone loses consciousness, an ambulance should be called immediately. Loss of consciousness might indicate a head injury, overdose, or an aneurysm that ruptures during drug use. Naloxone must be accessible when using drugs, and you should be trained on how to administer it to reverse an overdose.

Seizures

If someone who takes drugs has a seizure, get them to a hospital immediately. Seizures or convulsions might be signs of overdose, withdrawal, or just a bad reaction to the drug. These situations require emergency attention and treatment, including supporting your health in the aftermath of a seizure triggered by drug use.

Violent Delusions or Psychosis

Some people take drugs for their hallucinogenic or delusional effects. When these effects become violent, the person and the drugs become dangerous. The best decision is to call an ambulance. Don’t approach the person directly because violence triggered by drugs can abnormally increase a person’s strength, making the person extremely dangerous.

Seeking help is the best thing you can do for yourself or someone else who is using drugs. It’s better to seek treatment and cover your bases, even if nothing is wrong, than to ignore symptoms until it’s too late. Don’t be among the thousands of people who succumb each year to fatal overdoses.

Typically, hospitals don’t usually call the police for drug use. Their goal is to encourage users to seek treatment, but there’s no force involved unless you are a danger to yourself or others.

For more information on whether to go to the hospital for any condition related to drug use, call 800-934-1582(Sponsored) .