Illicit drugs, used to get high, may be taken in
overdose amounts when a person's metabolism cannot
detoxify the drug fast enough to avoid unintended side effects.
Drugs have effects on the entire body. Generally, in an overdose,
the effects of the drug may be a heightened level of the therapeutic effects
seen with regular use. In overdose, side effects become more pronounced, and
other effects can take place, which would not occur with normal use. Large
overdoses of some medications cause only minimal effects, while smaller
overdoses of other medications can cause severe effects, possibly death. A
single dose of some medications can be lethal to a young child. Some overdoses
may worsen a person's chronic disease. For example, an asthma attack
or chest pains may be triggered. Some of the symptoms for drug abuse include:
· Problems
with vital signs (temperature, pulse rate, respiratory rate, blood pressure)
are possible and can be life threatening. Vital sign values can be increased,
decreased, or completely absent.
· Sleepiness,
confusion, and coma are
common and can be dangerous if the person breathes vomit into the lungs
(aspirated).
· Skin
can be cool and sweaty, or hot and dry.
· Chest
pain is possible and can be caused by heart or lung damage. Shortness of breath
may occur. Breathing may get rapid, slow, deep, or shallow.
· Abdominal pain,
nausea, vomiting, and diarrhea are
possible. Vomiting blood, or blood in bowel movements, can be life threatening.
· Specific
drugs can damage specific organs, depending on the drug