BACK TOTOP Browse A-ZSearchBrowse A-ZABCDEFGHIJKLMNOPQRSTUVWXYZ0-9 E-mail FormEmail ResultsName:Email address:Recipients Name:Recipients address:Message: Print-FriendlyBookmarksbookmarks-menuDrug use first aidOverdose from drugs; Drug abuse first aidDrug use is the misuse or overuse of any medicine or drug, including alcohol. This article discusses first aid for drug overdose and withdrawal.Drug useSubstance use is the continued use of alcohol, illegal drugs, or the misuse of prescription or over-the-counter medicines with negative consequences....Read Article Now Book Mark Article OverdoseAn overdose is when you take more than the recommended amount of something, often a medicine or drug. An overdose may result in serious, harmful sym...Read Article Now Book Mark Article Considerations Many drugs and medicines can cause harm if taken incorrectly or misused. Many street drugs, such as methamphetamine or crack cocaine, have no known beneficial use in any amount.Medicines that are used to treat a health problem can be misused, either accidentally or intentionally. This can occur when people take more than the normal dose or if the medicine is taken with alcohol or other drugs.Drug interactions may also lead to side effects. So, it is important to let your health care provider know about all the drugs you are taking. This includes vitamins, supplements, medicines from other countries, and other medicines or drugs you bought without a prescription.Many drugs and medicines are addictive. Sometimes, the addiction is gradual. And some drugs (such as cocaine) can cause addiction after only a few doses. Addiction means that a person has a strong urge to use the substance and can't stop, even if they want to.CocaineCocaine is made from the leaves of the coca plant. Cocaine comes as a white powder, which can be dissolved in water. It is available as a powder or...Read Article Now Book Mark Article Someone who has become addicted to a drug usually will have withdrawal symptoms when the drug is suddenly stopped. Treatment can help prevent or lessen withdrawal symptoms.A drug dose that is large enough to cause harm to the body (toxic) is called an overdose. This may occur suddenly, when a large amount of the drug is taken at one time. It may also occur gradually as a drug builds up in the body over a longer period. Prompt medical attention may save the life of someone who has an overdose. Causes An overdose of narcotics can cause sleepiness, slowed breathing, and even unconsciousness.UnconsciousnessUnconsciousness is when a person is unable to respond to people and activities. Doctors often call this a coma or being in a comatose state. Other c...Read Article Now Book Mark Article When prescription drugs are taken in higher than prescribed amounts, serious side effects may occur. Uppers (stimulants) produce excitement, increased heart rate, and rapid breathing. Downers (depressants) do just the opposite.StimulantsStimulants are drugs or medicines that increase your heart rate, breathing rate, and brain function. Some stimulants affect only a specific organ, s...Read Article Now Book Mark Article Rapid breathingHyperventilation is rapid and deep breathing. It is also called overbreathing, and it may leave you feeling breathless.Read Article Now Book Mark Article Mind-altering drugs are called hallucinogens. They vary widely in effect and include drugs like peyote and LSD, which primarily affect serotonin receptors in the brain, as well as ketamine and PCP (angel dust), which affect multiple receptors in the brain. These mind-altering substances are not well understood and in some cases may cause paranoia, dangerous behaviors, or extreme social withdrawal.LSDLSD stands for lysergic acid diethylamide. It is an illegal street drug that comes as a white powder or clear colorless liquid. It is available in ...Read Article Now Book Mark Article PCPPhencyclidine (PCP) is an illegal street drug that usually comes as a white powder, which can be dissolved in alcohol or water. It can be bought as ...Read Article Now Book Mark Article ParanoiaParanoid personality disorder (PPD) is a mental condition in which a person has a long-term pattern of distrust and suspicion of others. The person ...Read Article Now Book Mark Article Cannabis drugs such as marijuana may cause relaxation, impaired motor skills, and increased appetite.MarijuanaMarijuana comes from a plant called hemp. Its scientific name is Cannabis sativa. The main, active ingredient in marijuana is THC (short for delta-...Read Article Now Book Mark Article Symptoms Drug overdose symptoms vary widely, depending on the specific drug used, but may include:Abnormal pupil size or pupils that don't change size when light is shined into them Agitation AgitationAgitation is an unpleasant state of extreme arousal. An agitated person may feel stirred up, excited, tense, confused, or irritable.Read Article Now Book Mark Article Seizures, tremors SeizuresA seizure is the physical changes in behavior that occurs during an episode of specific types of abnormal electrical activity in the brain. The term ...Read Article Now Book Mark Article Delusional or paranoid behavior, hallucinations Difficulty breathing Difficulty breathingBreathing difficulty may involve:Difficult breathing Uncomfortable breathingFeeling like you are not getting enough airRead Article Now Book Mark Article Drowsiness, coma Nausea and vomiting Staggering or unsteady gait (ataxia) StaggeringWalking abnormalities can be caused by many different types of problems. Problems with the joints, (such as arthritis), bones (such as deformities),...Read Article Now Book Mark Article AtaxiaUncoordinated movement is due to a muscle control problem that causes an inability to coordinate movements. It leads to a jerky, unsteady, to-and-fr...Read Article Now Book Mark Article Sweating or extremely dry, hot skin, blisters, rash Violent or aggressive behavior DeathDrug withdrawal symptoms also vary widely, depending on the specific drug used, but may include:Abdominal cramping Abdominal crampingAbdominal pain is pain that you feel anywhere between your chest and groin. This is often referred to as the stomach region or belly.Read Article Now Book Mark Article Agitation, restlessness RestlessnessAgitation is an unpleasant state of extreme arousal. An agitated person may feel stirred up, excited, tense, confused, or irritable.Read Article Now Book Mark Article Cold sweat Cold sweatClammy skin is cool, moist, and usually pale.Read Article Now Book Mark Article Delusions, hallucinations Depression DepressionDepression may be described as feeling sad, blue, unhappy, miserable, or down in the dumps. Most of us feel this way at one time or another for shor...Read Article Now Book Mark Article Nausea, vomiting, diarrhea Seizures Death First Aid 1. Check the person's airway, breathing, and pulse. If needed, begin CPR. If unconscious but breathing, carefully place the person in the recovery position by log rolling the person toward you onto their left side. Bend the top leg so both hip and knee are at right angles. Gently tilt their head back to keep the airway open. If the person is conscious, loosen the clothing and keep the person warm, and provide reassurance. Try to keep the person calm. If you suspect an overdose, try to prevent the person from taking more drugs. Call for medical help right away.CPRCPR stands for cardiopulmonary resuscitation. It is an emergency life-saving procedure that is done when someone's breathing or heartbeat has stoppe...Read Article Now Book Mark Article UnconsciousUnconsciousness is when a person is unable to respond to people and activities. Doctors often call this a coma or being in a comatose state. Other c...Read Article Now Book Mark Article 2. Treat the person for signs of shock. Signs include weakness, bluish lips and fingernails, clammy skin, paleness, and decreasing alertness.ShockShock is a life-threatening condition that occurs when the body is not getting enough blood flow. Lack of blood flow means the cells and organs do n...Read Article Now Book Mark Article WeaknessWeakness is reduced strength in one or more muscles.Read Article Now Book Mark Article Bluish lips and fingernailsA bluish color to the skin or mucous membrane is usually due to a lack of oxygen in the blood. The medical term is cyanosis.Read Article Now Book Mark Article Clammy skinClammy skin is cool, moist, and usually pale.Read Article Now Book Mark Article PalenessPaleness is an abnormal loss of color from normal skin or mucous membranes.Read Article Now Book Mark Article 3. If the person is having seizures, give first aid for seizures.First aid for seizuresA seizure is the physical changes in behavior that occurs during an episode of specific types of abnormal electrical activity in the brain. The term ...Read Article Now Book Mark Article 4. Keep monitoring the person's vital signs (pulse, rate of breathing, blood pressure, if possible) until emergency medical help arrives.Vital signsVital signs reflect essential body functions, including your heartbeat, breathing rate, temperature, and blood pressure. Your health care provider m...Read Article Now Book Mark Article PulseThe pulse is the number of heartbeats per minute.Read Article Now Book Mark Article 5. If possible, try to determine which drug(s) were taken, how much and when. Save any pill bottles or other drug containers. Give this information to emergency personnel. Do Not Things you shouldn't do when tending to someone who has overdosed:Do not put your own safety in danger. Some drugs can cause violent and unpredictable behavior. Call for medical help. Do not try to reason with someone who is on drugs. Do not expect them to behave reasonably. Do not offer your opinions when giving help. You don't need to know why drugs were taken in order to give effective first aid. When to Contact a Medical Professional Drug emergencies are not always easy to identify. If you think someone has overdosed, or if you think someone is having withdrawal, give first aid and seek medical help.Try to find out what drug the person has taken. If possible, collect all drug containers and any remaining drug samples or the person's vomit and take them to the hospital.VomitNausea is feeling an urge to vomit. It is often called "being sick to your stomach. "Vomiting or throwing-up forces the contents of the stomach up t...Read Article Now Book Mark Article If you or someone you are with has overdosed, call 911 or the local emergency number or the poison control center, which can be reached directly by calling the national toll-free Poison Help hotline (1-800-222-1222) from anywhere in the United States.This is a free and confidential service. All local poison control centers in the United States use this national number. You should call if you have any questions about poisoning or poison prevention. It does NOT need to be an emergency. You can call for any reason, 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.At the hospital, the provider will perform a history and physical examination. Tests and procedures will be done as necessary.These may include:Activated charcoal and laxatives to help remove swallowed drugs from the body (sometimes given through a tube placed through the mouth into the stomach) Airway and breathing support, including oxygen, a face mask, tube through the mouth into the trachea, and breathing machine (ventilator) Blood and urine tests CT scan of the head, neck, and other areas Chest x-ray ECG (electrocardiogram, or heart tracing) Intravenous fluids (fluids through a vein) Medicines to reverse the effects of the drugs Mental health and social work evaluation and assistanceIn serious cases, the person may need to be admitted to the hospital for further treatment.Outcome depends on many things, including:The type and amount of drugs Where the drugs entered the body, such as through the mouth, nose, or by injection (intravenous or skin popping) Whether the person has other health problems Prevention Many resources are available for treating substance use. Ask a provider about local resources.ResourcesThe following organizations are a good resource for information on drug dependence:National Institute on Drug Abuse -- nida. nih. govSubstance Abuse ...Read Article Now Book Mark Article Open ReferencesReferencesBernard SA, Jennings PA. Pre-hospital emergency medicine. In: Cameron P, Little M, Mitra B, Deasy C, eds. Textbook of Adult Emergency Medicine. 5th ed. Philadelphia, PA: Elsevier; 2020:chap 29.1.Barret W, Iwanicki JL. THC and hallucinogens. In: Walls RM, ed. Rosen's Emergency Medicine: Concepts and Clinical Practice. 10th ed. Philadelphia, PA: Elsevier; 2023:chap 145.Meehan TJ. Care of the poisoned patient. In: Walls RM, ed. Rosen's Emergency Medicine: Concepts and Clinical Practice. 10th ed. Philadelphia, PA: Elsevier; 2023:chap 135.Nutt D, King LA, Saulsbury W, Blakemore C. Development of a rational scale to assess the harm of drugs of potential misuse. Lancet. 2007;369(9566):1047-1053. PMID: 17382831 pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/17382831/.Weiss RD. Drugs of abuse. In: Goldman L, Schafer AI, eds. Goldman-Cecil Medicine. 26th ed. Philadelphia, PA: Elsevier; 2020:chap 31.AllVideoImagesTogRelated Information Substance use(Special Topic)Toxicology screen(Medical Test) Review Date: 4/16/2022 Reviewed By: Jesse Borke, MD, CPE, FAAEM, FACEP, Attending Physician at Kaiser Permanente, Orange County, CA. Also reviewed by David C. Dugdale, MD, Medical Director, Brenda Conaway, Editorial Director, and the A.D.A.M. Editorial team. The information provided herein should not be used during any medical emergency or for the diagnosis or treatment of any medical condition. A licensed medical professional should be consulted for diagnosis and treatment of any and all medical conditions. Links to other sites are provided for information only -- they do not constitute endorsements of those other sites. No warranty of any kind, either expressed or implied, is made as to the accuracy, reliability, timeliness, or correctness of any translations made by a third-party service of the information provided herein into any other language. © 1997- A.D.A.M., a business unit of Ebix, Inc. Any duplication or distribution of the information contained herein is strictly prohibited. © 1997- All rights reserved. A.D.A.M. content is best viewed in IE9 or above, Firefox and Google Chrome browser.Content is best viewed in IE9 or above, Firefox and Google Chrome browser.
Drug use first aidOverdose from drugs; Drug abuse first aidDrug use is the misuse or overuse of any medicine or drug, including alcohol. This article discusses first aid for drug overdose and withdrawal.Drug useSubstance use is the continued use of alcohol, illegal drugs, or the misuse of prescription or over-the-counter medicines with negative consequences....Read Article Now Book Mark Article OverdoseAn overdose is when you take more than the recommended amount of something, often a medicine or drug. An overdose may result in serious, harmful sym...Read Article Now Book Mark Article Considerations Many drugs and medicines can cause harm if taken incorrectly or misused. Many street drugs, such as methamphetamine or crack cocaine, have no known beneficial use in any amount.Medicines that are used to treat a health problem can be misused, either accidentally or intentionally. This can occur when people take more than the normal dose or if the medicine is taken with alcohol or other drugs.Drug interactions may also lead to side effects. So, it is important to let your health care provider know about all the drugs you are taking. This includes vitamins, supplements, medicines from other countries, and other medicines or drugs you bought without a prescription.Many drugs and medicines are addictive. Sometimes, the addiction is gradual. And some drugs (such as cocaine) can cause addiction after only a few doses. Addiction means that a person has a strong urge to use the substance and can't stop, even if they want to.CocaineCocaine is made from the leaves of the coca plant. Cocaine comes as a white powder, which can be dissolved in water. It is available as a powder or...Read Article Now Book Mark Article Someone who has become addicted to a drug usually will have withdrawal symptoms when the drug is suddenly stopped. Treatment can help prevent or lessen withdrawal symptoms.A drug dose that is large enough to cause harm to the body (toxic) is called an overdose. This may occur suddenly, when a large amount of the drug is taken at one time. It may also occur gradually as a drug builds up in the body over a longer period. Prompt medical attention may save the life of someone who has an overdose. Causes An overdose of narcotics can cause sleepiness, slowed breathing, and even unconsciousness.UnconsciousnessUnconsciousness is when a person is unable to respond to people and activities. Doctors often call this a coma or being in a comatose state. Other c...Read Article Now Book Mark Article When prescription drugs are taken in higher than prescribed amounts, serious side effects may occur. Uppers (stimulants) produce excitement, increased heart rate, and rapid breathing. Downers (depressants) do just the opposite.StimulantsStimulants are drugs or medicines that increase your heart rate, breathing rate, and brain function. Some stimulants affect only a specific organ, s...Read Article Now Book Mark Article Rapid breathingHyperventilation is rapid and deep breathing. It is also called overbreathing, and it may leave you feeling breathless.Read Article Now Book Mark Article Mind-altering drugs are called hallucinogens. They vary widely in effect and include drugs like peyote and LSD, which primarily affect serotonin receptors in the brain, as well as ketamine and PCP (angel dust), which affect multiple receptors in the brain. These mind-altering substances are not well understood and in some cases may cause paranoia, dangerous behaviors, or extreme social withdrawal.LSDLSD stands for lysergic acid diethylamide. It is an illegal street drug that comes as a white powder or clear colorless liquid. It is available in ...Read Article Now Book Mark Article PCPPhencyclidine (PCP) is an illegal street drug that usually comes as a white powder, which can be dissolved in alcohol or water. It can be bought as ...Read Article Now Book Mark Article ParanoiaParanoid personality disorder (PPD) is a mental condition in which a person has a long-term pattern of distrust and suspicion of others. The person ...Read Article Now Book Mark Article Cannabis drugs such as marijuana may cause relaxation, impaired motor skills, and increased appetite.MarijuanaMarijuana comes from a plant called hemp. Its scientific name is Cannabis sativa. The main, active ingredient in marijuana is THC (short for delta-...Read Article Now Book Mark Article Symptoms Drug overdose symptoms vary widely, depending on the specific drug used, but may include:Abnormal pupil size or pupils that don't change size when light is shined into them Agitation AgitationAgitation is an unpleasant state of extreme arousal. An agitated person may feel stirred up, excited, tense, confused, or irritable.Read Article Now Book Mark Article Seizures, tremors SeizuresA seizure is the physical changes in behavior that occurs during an episode of specific types of abnormal electrical activity in the brain. The term ...Read Article Now Book Mark Article Delusional or paranoid behavior, hallucinations Difficulty breathing Difficulty breathingBreathing difficulty may involve:Difficult breathing Uncomfortable breathingFeeling like you are not getting enough airRead Article Now Book Mark Article Drowsiness, coma Nausea and vomiting Staggering or unsteady gait (ataxia) StaggeringWalking abnormalities can be caused by many different types of problems. Problems with the joints, (such as arthritis), bones (such as deformities),...Read Article Now Book Mark Article AtaxiaUncoordinated movement is due to a muscle control problem that causes an inability to coordinate movements. It leads to a jerky, unsteady, to-and-fr...Read Article Now Book Mark Article Sweating or extremely dry, hot skin, blisters, rash Violent or aggressive behavior DeathDrug withdrawal symptoms also vary widely, depending on the specific drug used, but may include:Abdominal cramping Abdominal crampingAbdominal pain is pain that you feel anywhere between your chest and groin. This is often referred to as the stomach region or belly.Read Article Now Book Mark Article Agitation, restlessness RestlessnessAgitation is an unpleasant state of extreme arousal. An agitated person may feel stirred up, excited, tense, confused, or irritable.Read Article Now Book Mark Article Cold sweat Cold sweatClammy skin is cool, moist, and usually pale.Read Article Now Book Mark Article Delusions, hallucinations Depression DepressionDepression may be described as feeling sad, blue, unhappy, miserable, or down in the dumps. Most of us feel this way at one time or another for shor...Read Article Now Book Mark Article Nausea, vomiting, diarrhea Seizures Death First Aid 1. Check the person's airway, breathing, and pulse. If needed, begin CPR. If unconscious but breathing, carefully place the person in the recovery position by log rolling the person toward you onto their left side. Bend the top leg so both hip and knee are at right angles. Gently tilt their head back to keep the airway open. If the person is conscious, loosen the clothing and keep the person warm, and provide reassurance. Try to keep the person calm. If you suspect an overdose, try to prevent the person from taking more drugs. Call for medical help right away.CPRCPR stands for cardiopulmonary resuscitation. It is an emergency life-saving procedure that is done when someone's breathing or heartbeat has stoppe...Read Article Now Book Mark Article UnconsciousUnconsciousness is when a person is unable to respond to people and activities. Doctors often call this a coma or being in a comatose state. Other c...Read Article Now Book Mark Article 2. Treat the person for signs of shock. Signs include weakness, bluish lips and fingernails, clammy skin, paleness, and decreasing alertness.ShockShock is a life-threatening condition that occurs when the body is not getting enough blood flow. Lack of blood flow means the cells and organs do n...Read Article Now Book Mark Article WeaknessWeakness is reduced strength in one or more muscles.Read Article Now Book Mark Article Bluish lips and fingernailsA bluish color to the skin or mucous membrane is usually due to a lack of oxygen in the blood. The medical term is cyanosis.Read Article Now Book Mark Article Clammy skinClammy skin is cool, moist, and usually pale.Read Article Now Book Mark Article PalenessPaleness is an abnormal loss of color from normal skin or mucous membranes.Read Article Now Book Mark Article 3. If the person is having seizures, give first aid for seizures.First aid for seizuresA seizure is the physical changes in behavior that occurs during an episode of specific types of abnormal electrical activity in the brain. The term ...Read Article Now Book Mark Article 4. Keep monitoring the person's vital signs (pulse, rate of breathing, blood pressure, if possible) until emergency medical help arrives.Vital signsVital signs reflect essential body functions, including your heartbeat, breathing rate, temperature, and blood pressure. Your health care provider m...Read Article Now Book Mark Article PulseThe pulse is the number of heartbeats per minute.Read Article Now Book Mark Article 5. If possible, try to determine which drug(s) were taken, how much and when. Save any pill bottles or other drug containers. Give this information to emergency personnel. Do Not Things you shouldn't do when tending to someone who has overdosed:Do not put your own safety in danger. Some drugs can cause violent and unpredictable behavior. Call for medical help. Do not try to reason with someone who is on drugs. Do not expect them to behave reasonably. Do not offer your opinions when giving help. You don't need to know why drugs were taken in order to give effective first aid. When to Contact a Medical Professional Drug emergencies are not always easy to identify. If you think someone has overdosed, or if you think someone is having withdrawal, give first aid and seek medical help.Try to find out what drug the person has taken. If possible, collect all drug containers and any remaining drug samples or the person's vomit and take them to the hospital.VomitNausea is feeling an urge to vomit. It is often called "being sick to your stomach. "Vomiting or throwing-up forces the contents of the stomach up t...Read Article Now Book Mark Article If you or someone you are with has overdosed, call 911 or the local emergency number or the poison control center, which can be reached directly by calling the national toll-free Poison Help hotline (1-800-222-1222) from anywhere in the United States.This is a free and confidential service. All local poison control centers in the United States use this national number. You should call if you have any questions about poisoning or poison prevention. It does NOT need to be an emergency. You can call for any reason, 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.At the hospital, the provider will perform a history and physical examination. Tests and procedures will be done as necessary.These may include:Activated charcoal and laxatives to help remove swallowed drugs from the body (sometimes given through a tube placed through the mouth into the stomach) Airway and breathing support, including oxygen, a face mask, tube through the mouth into the trachea, and breathing machine (ventilator) Blood and urine tests CT scan of the head, neck, and other areas Chest x-ray ECG (electrocardiogram, or heart tracing) Intravenous fluids (fluids through a vein) Medicines to reverse the effects of the drugs Mental health and social work evaluation and assistanceIn serious cases, the person may need to be admitted to the hospital for further treatment.Outcome depends on many things, including:The type and amount of drugs Where the drugs entered the body, such as through the mouth, nose, or by injection (intravenous or skin popping) Whether the person has other health problems Prevention Many resources are available for treating substance use. Ask a provider about local resources.ResourcesThe following organizations are a good resource for information on drug dependence:National Institute on Drug Abuse -- nida. nih. govSubstance Abuse ...Read Article Now Book Mark Article Open ReferencesReferencesBernard SA, Jennings PA. Pre-hospital emergency medicine. In: Cameron P, Little M, Mitra B, Deasy C, eds. Textbook of Adult Emergency Medicine. 5th ed. Philadelphia, PA: Elsevier; 2020:chap 29.1.Barret W, Iwanicki JL. THC and hallucinogens. In: Walls RM, ed. Rosen's Emergency Medicine: Concepts and Clinical Practice. 10th ed. Philadelphia, PA: Elsevier; 2023:chap 145.Meehan TJ. Care of the poisoned patient. In: Walls RM, ed. Rosen's Emergency Medicine: Concepts and Clinical Practice. 10th ed. Philadelphia, PA: Elsevier; 2023:chap 135.Nutt D, King LA, Saulsbury W, Blakemore C. Development of a rational scale to assess the harm of drugs of potential misuse. Lancet. 2007;369(9566):1047-1053. PMID: 17382831 pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/17382831/.Weiss RD. Drugs of abuse. In: Goldman L, Schafer AI, eds. Goldman-Cecil Medicine. 26th ed. Philadelphia, PA: Elsevier; 2020:chap 31.