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Drug Overdose Drug overdose happens when you take too much of a drug. An overdose can occur with illegal drugs, prescription drugs, or over-the-counter (OTC) drugs. The effects of drug overdose can be mild, dangerous, or even deadly. CAUSES Drug overdose may be caused by: Intentionally taking too much of a drug. Accidentally taking too much of a drug. An error by a doctor who prescribes a drug. An error by a pharmacist who fills the prescription order. Drugs that commonly cause overdose include: Mental health drugs. Pain medicines. Illegal drugs. OTC cough and cold medicines. Heart medicines. Seizure medicines. RISK FACTORS The risk of drug overdose is higher for: Children. They may be …show more content…
Absorb any medicine left in your digestive system (activated charcoal). Block or reverse the effect of the drug that caused the overdose. Filtering your blood through an artificial kidney (hemodialysis). You may need this if your overdose is severe or if you have kidney failure. Ongoing counseling and mental health support if you intentionally overdosed or used an illegal drug. HOME CARE INSTRUCTIONS Take medicines only as directed by your health care provider. Always ask your health care provider to discuss the possible adverse effects of any new drug you begin taking. Keep a list of all the drugs you take, including over-the-counter medicines. Bring this list with you to all your medical visits. Read the drug inserts that come with your medicines. Do not use illegal drugs. Do not drink alcohol when taking drugs. Store all medicines in safety containers and out of the reach of children. Keep the phone number of your poison control center near your phone or on your cell phone. Get help if you are struggling with alcohol or drug use. Get help if you are struggling with depression or another mental health problem. SEEK MEDICAL CARE
Polypharmacy among the elderly is a growing concern in U.S. healthcare system. Patients who have comorbities and take multiple medications are at a higher risk for potential adverse drug reactions. There is a great need for nursing interventions in conducting a patient medication review also known as “brown bag”. As nurses obtain history data from patients at a provider visit, the nurse should ask “what medications are you taking?” and the answer needs to include over-the-counter medications as well. If the response does not include any medications other than prescribed meds, it is incumbent upon the nursing professionals to question the patient further to ensure that no over-the-counter medications or supplements are being consumed. This is also an opportunity for the nurse to question about any adverse reactions the patient may be experiencing resulting from medications. Polypharmacy can result from patients having multiple prescribers and pharmacies, and patients continuing to take medications that have been discontinued by the physician. Nurses are in a unique position to provide early detection and intervention for potentially inappropriate medications and its associated adverse drug reactions.
Substance addiction is becoming an epidemic. While some people can quit using a substance without any help, most people need help to their recovery. Narcotics anonymous is an important support group for our society. There are many different narcotic anonymous programs to join that have meetings throughout the week. The members of the support group all share one thing in common, they suffer from different types of chemical dependency. Members help each other because they have the same problems and worries that everyone in the room has. Though they may be struggling with different stages in their life, for the most part, they all relate to what each is going through. Just as AA, NA focuses on the 12-step program. The members of
In addition, there are several nonprofit drug abuse counseling programs available for those individuals that need it. There is an epidemic of drug overdosing within the recent years. These drug programs help to lower the overdose rate and give long term assistance for those that have lifelong drug
Your family and friends mean well when they remind (and sometimes nag) you to take your medication every day.
Coolen, P., Best, S., Lima, A., Sabel, J., & Paulozzi, L. (2009). Overdose deaths involving prescription
Almost every human being on Earth has experienced some form of medication in their lifetime. Whether it may be pill form, syrup, topical creams, or even a shot; medicine is experienced by everyone. The three medicines that I have chosen to talk about today are Lamisil, Lipitor and Zoloft. All three of these medications must be prescribed by a doctor.
One overdose every six hours. No, this is not the national average rate for opioid overdoses, this is the rate in which one individual overdosed on opioids in a single day. At one thirty in the afternoon, thirty-four year old Patrick Griffin was found by his dad lying on his bedroom floor passed out from a heroin overdose. Just an hour and a half later, at three o’clock, he overdosed again, but this time he became unconscious. Paramedics arrived at his house and revived him with Narcan, the antidote that blocks the effects of opioids in an overdose. A short hour later, at four o’clock, he overdosed again. He was found by his parents, just like before, unconscious. He was revived by paramedics yet again and taken to a hospital, but he checked
Addiction is a chronic brain disease characterized by compulsive drug and substance use. Despite its harmful consequences to the human body, addicts continue to seek for more drugs to keep their systems active. Millions of people abuse drugs and substances in the world today. As a result of substance abuse, addicts can easily lose control of their actions. Addiction is a long-lasting brain illness that disrupts the normal body functioning. It holds the brain hostage.
Ryan is the presented client in this case at twenty-five years old. He identifies himself as a heroin addict and first started using substances at the age of twelve years old. This was around the time that Ryan reports his parents got divorced. His substance use first began with occasional alcohol and marijuana use that became daily use by the age of fifteen. Ryan shares that he then began to experiment with a variety of drugs including opiates which became his drug of choice. His use of opiates escalated from pills to intravenous heroin use that he was supporting through dealing, stealing, and pawning. The client has made attempts at sobriety previously including detox, inpatient, intensive outpatient treatment, and one-on-one therapy. His girlfriend recently entered treatment for her heroin use and Ryan is able to report numerous consequences of his drug use over the past several years including pending legal issues that have driven him to
Center, N. D. (2004, April). Drug Abuse and Mental Illness. Retrieved Febrauary 9, 2011, from Justice.gov: http://www.justice.gov/ndic/pubs7/7343/7343p.pdf
Addiction has been a part of my life for as long as I can remember, from my earliest memories of my father, until now as I am a licensed professional in the field of addiction as well as a person in long term recovery myself.
Suicide, it's not pretty. For those of you who don't know what it is, it's the
The consumption of a lot of drugs can cause overdose, which severely alters the functioning of organs such as lungs and heart, and can cause death.
Drug abuse is defined as the excessive use of medication or substances which are either legal or illegal without the prescription of a physician. While some drugs are legal, overdosing is considered as drug abuse as the medicine is only healthy and helpful when taken in the required amount with the permission of a doctor. Other forms of drug abuse entail the use of substance that is either discouraged by healthcare association or illegalized by authorities. The users may use the drugs in order to feel a rush of energy or appear calm than normal. Drug abuse is a problem that affects the users, their close relatives and the society they live in (Barnard, 2007). There are different types of drugs that are abused ranging from extremely
Users who abuse drugs by prescription improperly use them by taking somebody else 's prescription, taking medication to get high, or taking medication in other ways than applied