A drug overdose may seem like something that won’t happen to you or someone you love. You know that there is an overdose danger associated with using drugs, but you may think that you never intend to overdose, and therefore it won’t happen to you, or that only some teens get addicted, but you won’t.
Drug overdose is becoming increasingly common, and the consequences aren’t pretty. An overdose can happen when you consume too much of one particular drug or mix one or more drugs. It also happens quite easily when using street drugs because you can’t know the exact dosage. Destinations for Teens can get your loved one the necessary treatment to overcome addiction and substance abuse before overdose has a chance to take them from you. Our drug addiction treatment for teens is effective in helping young people heal and recover.
What Happens to Your Body When You Overdose?
You should be aware of many overdose symptoms, and you should know that most of them are not attractive. If you overdose, your friends and others around you might see you experience the following:
- Your heart will start to race, and you might begin sweating. You can easily become confused or disoriented, and you may even lose consciousness.
- Vomiting and diarrhea are common during a drug overdose, and you won’t control them. Blood in your vomit or your stool are signs of life-threatening complications.
- You might begin hallucinating. You will see things that don’t exist, and you will be talking about things that do not make sense to those around you.
- You may become agitated and paranoid. This could make others around you feel very concerned and confused, and you may say things that you do not mean.
- You could have seizures, resulting in physical injury — both external and internal.
What are the Consequences of Overdose?
The consequences of overdose are severe. In many cases, overdose leads to death. Overdose kills more people each year than car accidents, falls, and guns. According to the Center for Disease Control, 105 people die every day from a drug overdose in the United States. In total, 38,329 deaths resulted from a drug overdose in 2010, and more than 30,000 of those deaths were unintentional.
If a drug overdose does not lead to death, it can lead to serious, long-term consequences. Some people who overdose on drugs and survive have permanent brain damage. Hypoxic brain injury results when there is not enough oxygen flowing to the brain, and it is a consequence of drug overdose, specifically heroin overdose.
This type of brain damage can impact your ability to see or hear properly. It can leave you uncoordinated and unable to move easily. It can make it more difficult for you to think clearly, damaging your memory. It can make it challenging for you to read and write.
How Destinations for Teens Can Help
Any drug use puts you at risk for overdose. In most cases, the overdose is not intentional. You may not think that your recreational drug use will lead to an overdose, but it can happen quickly and easily. If you or someone you love is using and abusing drugs and alcohol, the best thing you can do is get help from professionals who can give you the treatment and guidance you need to get on the path toward a better life. At Destinations for Teens, we over numerous drug and alcohol treatment programs such as:
- Residential treatment
- Partial hospitalization program
- Intensive outpatient program
- Outpatient treatment
To learn more about overdose and get help, give us a call at 877.466.0620.
References
- Overdose Basics, International Overdose Awareness Day, http://www.overdoseday.com/facts-stats/overdose-basics/
- Drug Overdose, WebMD, http://www.webmd.com/mental-health/addiction/drug-overdose?page=2
- Bellum, Sarah, Drug Overdoses Kill More Than Cars, Guns, and Falling, 6/11/2014, http://teens.drugabuse.gov/blog/post/drug-overdoses-kill-more-than-cars-guns-and-falling
