What You Need to Know About Overdoses

What Is an Overdose?

An overdose occurs when a person takes more of a substance than their body can safely process. This can involve illegal drugs, prescription medications, over-the-counter medicines, or alcohol. The excess quantity overwhelms the body’s natural systems, leading to potentially life-threatening effects on breathing, heart rate, and brain function.

Not all overdoses are fatal, but every overdose is serious. Even if a person survives, there can be long-term damage to the brain, heart, liver, or other organs. And for those struggling with addiction, one overdose can be a critical warning sign that immediate help is needed.

How and Why Overdoses Happen

Overdoses can happen for several reasons, and not all are deliberate. Understanding the “why” is key to both prevention and empathy.

1. Tolerance changes – People who use substances regularly develop a tolerance, meaning they need more to feel the same effect. However, after a break (for example, after rehab, detox, or even a short period of abstinence) the body’s tolerance drops. Using the same amount as before can suddenly become lethal.
2. Mixing substances – Combining drugs (such as opioids and benzodiazepines) or mixing drugs with alcohol drastically increases overdose risk because it multiplies the depressant effect on the central nervous system.
3. Unknown strength or contamination – Street drugs are unpredictable. Illicit substances like heroin, cocaine, or MDMA are often cut with other chemicals, including fentanyl, a synthetic opioid up to 50 times stronger than heroin. Just a tiny amount can trigger an overdose.
4. Mental health struggles – Sometimes overdoses are intentional acts of self-harm or suicide attempts, often linked with untreated depression, trauma, or anxiety.
5. Accidental misuse of prescription drugs – Taking medication more often than prescribed, doubling up on doses, or mixing it with alcohol can lead to accidental overdose, especially with opioids, sleeping pills, or anti-anxiety medication.
6. Binge drinking – Alcohol poisoning is a form of overdose that can be just as deadly as a drug overdose, particularly when consumed rapidly or combined with other depressants.

Substances Commonly Involved in Overdoses

While any substance can cause harm when taken in excess, some are far more likely to lead to overdose. Let’s look at the main types.

Opioids (Heroin, Fentanyl, Morphine, Oxycodone, Codeine)

Opioids are the most common cause of fatal overdoses. They depress the respiratory system, meaning the person’s breathing slows down or stops altogether.

Symptoms of opioid overdose:

1. Slow, shallow, or stopped breathing
2. Blue or purple lips and fingernails
3. Unconsciousness or inability to wake up
4. Gurgling or choking sounds
5. Limp body
6. Pinpoint pupils

Benzodiazepines (Diazepam, Xanax, Valium, Temazepam)

Benzodiazepines, or “benzos,” are prescribed to treat anxiety, insomnia, and seizures. When taken in high doses or mixed with alcohol or opioids, they can dangerously suppress breathing.

Symptoms include:

1. Extreme drowsiness
2. Confusion or dizziness
3. Slurred speech
4. Shallow breathing
5. Loss of coordination
6. Unconsciousness

Stimulants (Cocaine, Amphetamines, MDMA, Methamphetamine)

Unlike depressants, stimulant overdoses speed up the body’s systems; heart rate, temperature, and blood pressure, to dangerous levels. This can cause heart failure, stroke, or seizures.

Symptoms include:

1. Chest pain or palpitations
2. High body temperature (hyperthermia)
   Seizures
3. Paranoia or hallucinations
4. Tremors or agitation
5. Rapid breathing
6. Loss of consciousness
   

Alcohol

Alcohol poisoning happens when blood alcohol levels become so high that vital functions; such as breathing, heart rate, and body temperature, begin to shut down.

Symptoms include:

1. Vomiting
2. Confusion or inability to speak clearly
3. Pale, clammy, or bluish skin
4. Slow or irregular breathing
5. Loss of consciousness or coma

Prescription Medications

Many people underestimate the danger of everyday medicines. Painkillers (like codeine or tramadol), antidepressants, and sleep aids can all cause overdose if misused.

Symptoms vary depending on the drug but may include nausea, confusion, extreme drowsiness, seizures, or breathing difficulties.

Even non-prescription drugs can be deadly in excess. For example:

1. Paracetamol (acetaminophen): Overdose can cause irreversible liver damage.
2. Ibuprofen: Can lead to stomach bleeding or kidney failure.
3. Antihistamines: Large doses can cause irregular heartbeat, seizures, or coma.
   

Recognising the Signs of an Overdose

Knowing the signs could save a life. They can differ depending on the substance, but here are common red flags to look for:

1. Slow, irregular, or stopped breathing
2. Loss of consciousness or inability to wake the person
3. Vomiting or choking sounds
4. Blue or pale lips, nails, or skin
5. Seizures or tremors
6. Chest pain or irregular heartbeat
   Very high or very low body temperature
7. Sudden confusion, paranoia, or hallucinations
   

If you’re unsure whether someone is having an overdose, treat it as an emergency,  it’s always better to overreact than to do nothing.

What to Do If Someone Is Having an Overdose

Time is critical in an overdose situation. The sooner you act, the better the chances of survival.

The Long-Term Impact of an Overdose

Even if someone survives, an overdose can have lasting effects, including:

1. Brain damage from lack of oxygen
2. Organ failure (especially liver or kidneys)
3. Memory problems
4. Post-traumatic stress
5. Increased risk of future overdose, particularly for those with substance dependence

But there is hope. Many people use the experience of an overdose as a turning point, a moment of clarity that leads them toward treatment and recovery.

Preventing Overdose: Practical Steps

When to Seek Help

If you’ve had an overdose, or even a near miss, it’s a sign that things have gone too far. But it’s also a second chance. Overdose doesn’t have to be the end; it can be the moment you decide to start again.

UKAT offers professional addiction treatment across the UK, from medically monitored detox to therapy and aftercare support. Whether you’re struggling with opioids, alcohol, prescription medication, or another substance, help is available. With the right support, recovery is not only possible, it’s within reach.