Dangers of Drug Overdose
Learn about the various dangers associated with a drug overdose, along with how to know that one might be happening.

What Is a Drug Overdose?
A drug overdose is a toxic reaction that happens when someone uses too much of a substance, whether it is an illegal drug, alcohol, or prescription medication. A drug overdose can lead to impairment of the brain and body’s normal functions, which can be short-term or long-term. In some cases, a drug overdose can be fatal.
Drug overdoses can happen immediately after someone uses a substance, or they can happen over the course of several hours, days, or even months. A person who overdoses and receives prompt medical attention may make a full recovery the same day. In other cases, a person who overdoses can fall into a coma, meaning their overdose can last for much longer and still be harming their body.

What Does an Overdose Feel Like?
A drug overdose can feel differently depending on the substance used, the amount used, as well as the individual’s body size and overall health.
Typically, the way an overdose feels is reflective of the substance that an individual overdoses on, meaning a stimulant overdose may cause someone to feel jittery, with increased blood pressure and heart rate, while an opioid overdose may cause symptoms like slowed breathing, loss of consciousness, and slowed heart rate.
Drug Overdose Symptoms
If you suspect you or someone you know may be experiencing a drug overdose, it’s important to know that the following are some common drug overdose symptoms:
Additional Indicators
Additionally, symptoms like fainting, pale or blue skin or lips, and slowed breathing are all serious signs of a drug overdose and call for immediate medical attention.
Treating Drug Overdose
Drug overdose treatment at home is usually not a good idea, especially when an individual is exhibiting severe overdose symptoms. Drug overdoses can quickly become serious and require intense medical attention that should be safely done at a treatment center or hospital.
However, if you think someone you know may be overdosing and your only choice is to help at home, you can save a life by administering an overdose medication like Narcan.
Reasons for Drug Overdose
An overdose can be an intentional drug overdose for suicide or self-harm, in which someone actively chooses to take too much of a drug with the goal of overdosing, or an overdose can be accidental. An accidental overdose happens when someone does not realize they are taking too much of a drug, and these are the most common types of overdose. In fact, research suggests that only 12% of overdoses are intentional, while the remaining 88% are accidental.1
Accidental Overdose
Unfortunately, accidental overdoses are on the rise. Fentanyl, also known as an “overdose drug,” may be responsible for the high number of overdoses in recent years, as many people are adding fentanyl to other drugs in order to create different effects or create less pure versions of the drug to sell.
This means that many people are unknowingly consuming large amounts of the powerful substance. Some believe fentanyl is the easiest drug to overdose on, as it is very potent and it can only take a small amount to overdose.2
What Drugs Do People Overdose On?
It is possible to overdose on many substances, but the most common types of drug overdoses occur from depressants, opioids, alcohol, and stimulants. Read on to learn more about overdose drugs and different drugs’ toxicity.
Depressants
Depressants, or central nervous system depressants, include drugs like sedatives, tranquilizers, and hypnotics. Common depressant drugs include Xanax and Valium. These drugs slow down the user’s heart rate, breathing, and can lower blood pressure. While a pill overdose on these drugs is not always fatal, taking large amounts is dangerous and can lead to death.3
Opioids
Including prescription drugs like Oxycontin, fentanyl, and Vicodin, as well as illegal drugs like heroin, opioids are the cause of many pill overdoses. In fact, so many people abuse opioids that America is in a full-blown opioid epidemic. In 2019, over ten million people in the U.S. misused prescription opioids, indicating the danger of this drug and the risk of a pill overdose.4
Alcohol
An alcohol overdose can be very dangerous and can even have fatal results, especially when it is combined with other substances. It’s important to look for serious signs of alcohol overdose, like confusion, clammy skin, slow heartbeat, and loss of consciousness, if you suspect someone has had too much alcohol.
Stimulants
Stimulants, such as cocaine, ecstasy, methamphetamine, and prescription stimulants like Adderall, can be dangerous when used in excess. Stimulant overdose symptoms involve a rapid heart rate, possible chest pain, and increased body temperature.
Dangers of a Drug Overdose
A drug overdose is a serious situation that affects the brain and body in many ways. In an opioid overdose, oxygen is often cut off to the brain, which can cause hypoxic or anoxic brain injury, even if a person is revived with an antidote for drug overdose like Narcan.
Stimulant overdose symptoms can include cardiovascular problems that may remain even after receiving treatment.
In the case of an alcohol overdose, alcohol enters the bloodstream after being absorbed by the small intestine, where it then is metabolized by the liver. But if you drink too much, the liver is unable to break down the alcohol, and it is redirected throughout the rest of the body, which can lead to overdose.5
Long-Term Effects of an Overdose
While some people only experience short-term effects of an overdose of drugs, others face much longer-term effects. Opioid overdose’s aftereffects include fatigue, nausea, and sometimes a long-term fear or trauma from the experience.
Other long-term side effects of overdose include:
Risk Factors for Drug Overdose
The most obvious way to avoid a drug overdose is to not use drugs, or use prescription drugs only at their prescribed dose. However, there are other ways to minimize the risk factors for drug overdoses.
Risk factors to be aware of include:
How to Prevent or Avoid an Overdose of Drugs

Avoiding and preventing a potentially dangerous overdose comes down to a few simple reminders.
Practice Medicine Safety
Keep medications stored in places where children cannot access them and be sure to put them away after each time you take them. Also, consider using a childproof latch or lock on the cabinet or drawer the medication is stored in. Even drugs prescribed by a doctor can be fatal, as prescription drug overdose is very possible.
Avoid Drugs Unless Prescribed
This is especially important if you have health conditions or mental health disorders, as drug use with these risk factors may make overdose more likely. If you have depression or suicidal thoughts, reach out to your doctor and avoid substances.
Throw Away Old Medications
You may accidentally take an old prescription, which can be dangerous when combined with other medications, or someone else in your household may take the drug intentionally or unintentionally, potentially leading to an overdose.
Be Careful If Taking Multiple Substances
In general, it is best not to combine substances, and always check with your doctor when implementing a new medication. Be sure to research any potential drug interactions between substances before taking more than one at once.
Drug Overdose Treatment at Anew Treatment Center
If you or a loved one struggles with substance use, or if you have experienced a drug overdose in the past, you may be feeling scared, overwhelmed, and unsure of where to go next. At Anew Treatment Center, your healing is our priority. With top-of-the-line, personalized drug overdose treatment and compassionate care, you can begin your journey to recovery at Anew Treatment Center.
Resources
- https://www.recoveryanswers.org/research-post/characterizing-intentional-accidental-drug-overdose-deaths/
- https://www.ama-assn.org/system/files/issue-brief-increases-in-opioid-related-overdose.pdf
- https://www.dea.gov/sites/default/files/2020-06/Depressants-2020.pdf
- https://www.hhs.gov/opioids/about-the-epidemic/index.htm
- https://www.healthline.com/health/alcoholism/overdose#causes
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