Definition Drug abuse
is defined as the misuse or overuse of any legal or illegal drug. These drugs include alcohol, over-the-counter medicines, and prescription medicines.
What are the signs and symptoms of the injury?
Overdose symptoms include:
abnormal pupil size and pupils that do not change when exposed to light
What are the causes and risks of the injury?
A drug overdose or drug abuse can result from the misuse of prescription or over-the-counter medicines, illegal drugs, or alcohol.
Commonly abused drugs are:
amphetamines, such as dextroamphetamine (i.e., Dexedrine) and methamphetamine
barbiturates, such as phenobarbital
benzodiazepines, such as diazepam (i.e., Valium), alprazolam (i.e., Niravam, Xanax), or lorazepam (i.e., Ativan)
combination pain medicines that contain narcotics, such as hydrocodone, codeine, or oxycodone
mind-altering drugs, such as marijuana, LSD, PCP, ecstasy, and angel dust
muscle relaxants, such as carisoprodol (i.e., Soma)
A person who has been abusing narcotics will require more and more of the drug to get the desired effect. Stopping the drug causes significant anxiety.
Uppers such as stimulants and amphetamines are used to stay awake, to lose weight, or just to get high. These cause excitement, rapid heartbeat, and rapid breathing.
Depressants, or downers, cause people to slow down. Some of these drugs are alcohol, benzodiazepines, and barbiturates.
Mind-altering drugs cause extreme fear or paranoia, hallucinations, aggressive behavior, extreme social withdrawal, and mental breakdown. Marijuana also alters the mind. These drugs usually produce effects such as wide pupils, redness around the eyes, and slurred speech.
In some people, illegal drugs can interact with prescription or over-the-counter medicines. This causes symptoms that seem like those of an overdose. These drug interactions can have serious side effects.
Alcohol, although legal, can react with many prescription and over-the-counter medicines and depress the central nervous system. A person who overdoses on alcohol has slurred speech, slow movement, and nonreactive pupils. The combination of certain drugs with alcohol can be deadly.
What can be done to prevent the injury?
To prevent drug overdose or abuse, a person should:
abstain from the use of illegal drugs altogether
inform his or her healthcare provider about all of the drugs he or she is taking in order to prevent drug interactions
seek professional help if drug abuse is a problem
take prescribed and over-the-counter medicines only as directed
How is the injury recognized?
The diagnosis is made by examining the person and asking about drug intake if the person is conscious. Blood and urine tests may be ordered.
However, healthcare professionals cannot check the blood or urine of a conscious person without his or her consent. The only time consent is not necessary is when a person is unconscious. In this case, it is legal to check a person's blood or urine for illicit and prescription drugs in order to make a diagnosis and begin treatment.
What are the treatments for the injury?
First aid for a person with a drug overdose includes several steps.
Check for signs of circulation and respiration, such as a pulse or heartbeat, and normal breathing, or coughing.
Contact the emergency medical system immediately.
Start cardiopulmonary resuscitation, or CPR, if the person stops breathing.
Stay with the person until medical assistance arrives.
If an overdose is suspected, try to keep the person from taking more drugs.
What are the side effects of the treatments?
There are few side effects related to treatment of an overdose. The main problem is the overdose. A drug overdose can cause death if not treated quickly and efficiently.
What happens after treatment for the injury?
After emergency treatment for a drug overdose, the person should receive professional help in dealing with the drug abuse. Any new or worsening symptoms should be reported to the healthcare professional.
Author: James Broomfield, MD Date Written: 02/24/00 Medical Review: Joseph Zanga, MD Date Written: 10/16/2006 Reviewer: Walt Larimore, MD Date Reviewed: 11/5/2006
Contributors
Potential conflict of interest information for reviewers available on request
