As a person continues to abuse drugs, the brain starts needing more and more of that substance to reach that peak. The tolerance to the drug and subsequent increasing of the “dose”, puts a drug user at an increased chance of overdosing. An overdose occurs when too much of a substance is put into the body. The body struggles against the attack, but can’t always compensate as the organs are affected. During a depressant overdose(morphine, fentanyl, oxycodone, heroin, etc.) some of the signs include respiratory distress or failure, cyanosis of lips and hands, limp body, unresponsiveness, or confusion. In a stimulant overdose(cocaine and meth) signs of overdose can include chest pain, erratic heart rate, confusion, headache, overheating, respiratory distress, irritability or anxiousness, hallucinations, seizures, and loss of consciousness.
While an overdose is not always fatal or intentional, it can cause a host of life-long health problems, regardless. An overdose survivor can experience heart, liver, kidney, and respiratory failure. Permanent brain damage can result from hypoxia. Since drug use of any kind can alter the mood receptors in the brain, an overdose can severely affect mental health. Depression, paranoia, loss of interest, memory loss and suicidal tendencies can also stem from a drug overdose. …show more content…
The fear that that person could die at any moment is a heartbreaking and frustrating feeling. The addict themselves can’t always see the downward spiral and that burden falls to their loved ones. Sometimes, they do see what they’re doing to themselves and the people that care about them, but they don’t always care and sometimes that hole they’ve dug themselves seems inescapable. I wish more people thought about the future before they headed down this devastating path. Being in the active throes of addiction is hell on earth, but sometimes what comes after is even