Opioid Overdose: Causes, Signs, and What to Do
Opioid Overdose: Signs, Symptoms, and What to Do
Any individual who uses opioids runs the risk of overdosing. Overdoses can be fatal. In fact, more than 130 people in the United States die after overdosing on opioids every day. This makes it important to know what causes an opioid overdose, the signs that an opioid overdose is occurring, and what to do in the event of an opioid overdose.
Opioid Overdose Causes
In 2017, the CDC reported that more than 15,000 individuals died from drug overdoses involving heroin in the United States. That’s almost 5 deaths for every 100,000 Americans. However, there are some people who may be more susceptible to opioid overdose than others. This can include:
Adults between the ages of 25 and 54 years old
Individuals taking higher doses than prescribed of prescription opioids
Individuals who inject opioids
Using opioids while also having certain medical conditions such as HIV, liver or lung disease
Individuals who suffer from mental health conditions such as depression or PTSD
Combining opioids with other substances
Individuals who have had at least one non-fatal overdose already
Nonfatal Overdoses
All opioid overdoses run the risk of becoming fatal, especially if left untreated. However, nonfatal overdoses are several times more common – a 2017 study published by the U.S. National Library of Medicine found that about 45 percent of drug users will experience nonfatal overdose and about 70 percent will witness drug overdose (both nonfatal a...
Source: Cliffside Malibu - Category: Addiction Authors: Jaclyn Uloth Tags: Detox Resources for Alcohol and Drugs/Opiates Painkiller drug overdose opiate addiction opioid opioids Source Type: blogs
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