Drug overdose, or overdose on drugs (poisoning or intoxication), occurs when the quantity of psychoactive substance(s) exceeds the individual’s ability to metabolize them, resulting in toxic levels in the body.
The harmful effect is caused by the pharmacological action of the psychoactive substance(s) in question. Many overdoses occur when multiple drugs are taken simultaneously, which can result in dangerous interactions between the substances and accidental overdoses from unexpected drug interactions.
This article focuses on common drugs that can cause overdose if taken excessively or without a doctor’s prescription.
What is a Drug Overdose?
A drug overdose occurs when someone takes a higher dose of the drug than their body can handle. When this happens, the drug overwhelms a person’s central nervous system, which interferes with normal functioning.
This can lead to breathing difficulty and even death if emergency treatment is not administered in time. Drug overdoses may be intentional or unintentional: accidental overdoses occur when someone doesn’t realize that the dose they are taking is too high for them.
While intentional overdoses happen when someone knowingly ingests more of the drug than is recommended by their doctor or pharmacist.
What Is an Accidental Drug Overdose?
An accidental drug overdose is when someone takes too much of a drug and ends up in the hospital. Someone might accidentally overdose if they don’t know how strong their dose is or if they are taking multiple medications at the same time.
To reduce the risk of accidental overdose, it’s important for people to be aware of the following drugs:
- Opiates – These drugs can lead to an overdose because they slow down breathing and heart rate so that insufficient oxygen goes into your bloodstream.
- Cocaine – Like opiates, cocaine can cause you to stop breathing.
- Alcohol – Alcohol slows down your brain and body functions, leading to an accidental overdose if taken in large quantities or with other drugs like benzodiazepines or antidepressants.
What Drugs Can You Overdose On?
There are many drugs that can lead to overdose, but the most common are opioids like heroin or oxycodone. However, benzodiazepines such as Xanax and Valium can be deadly if you take too much of them. In addition, there are stimulants that you can overdose on, like cocaine or amphetamines.
Finally, a few other substances could lead to an overdose, such as alcohol and GHB.
Drug #1: Benzodiazepines
Benzodiazepines are a family of drugs that can be prescribed for anxiety and insomnia, but there is potential for addiction. Short-term use of these drugs is generally safe, but long-term abuse could lead to death from overdose.
Benzodiazepines are often taken with alcohol or other sedatives and central nervous system depressants such as opioids. The combination of these substances can slow down the body’s functions leading to respiratory arrest, coma, or death.
Drug #2: Opioids
Opioids are drugs that reduce the sensation of pain and produce feelings of relaxation and euphoria. They are often prescribed for relief from pain.
Opioid overdoses can be fatal because they suppress breathing, leading to coma, respiratory arrest, or death. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) estimates that 91 Americans die every day from an opioid overdose. Symptoms include:
Drug #3: Antidepressants
Antidepressants are used to treat depression, obsessive-compulsive disorder, or panic disorders. They may be prescribed by a doctor or purchased over the counter (e.g., at the grocery store).
While it is possible for someone who takes antidepressants on a regular basis to overdose on them, this is not common. It can happen if you try and commit suicide with an antidepressant overdose.
Drug #4: Painkillers and Stimulants
Painkillers and stimulants are two categories of drugs that can lead to overdose. This is because they typically have a high potential for misuse and abuse, which can result in an overdose.
The misuse of these types of drugs happens when someone takes more than the recommended dose or when they take it with other substances that also have a depressant effect. Some examples of painkillers include codeine, morphine, and oxycodone.
Stimulants are drugs like methamphetamine, amphetamines (including crystal meth), or cocaine. They affect the central nervous system by increasing dopamine production in the brain, which can cause euphoria and a sense of well-being.
Drug #5: Methamphetamine
A potent CNS stimulant, methamphetamine is typically used recreationally for its euphoric and stimulating effects. However, people with a meth addiction can suffer from an overdose due to the buildup of this drug in their systems over time – even if they don’t take a high dose. Meth overdoses often involve other drugs like opioids and synthetic narcotics – just like cocaine or heroin; these substances are illegal, and there are no quality controls over them. It means that two doses of different strengths can look identical but have vastly different side effects, which may result in accidental overdoses.
