Drug overdose is a public health crisis that declares more than 96,000 lives every year in America. Opioid overdose account for 67.8% of those deaths.
An overdose takes place when your body is exposed to one or more drugs, in a dose or mix that it can not manage. Overdose can lead to long-term damage or death if not dealt with rapidly. The signs and symptoms of a drug overdose depend on a number of elements like what kind of drugs were taken in, the body’s level of tolerance and if other medications or alcohol were included.
Drug overdose: The most common things to watch for:
- Loss of awareness
- Loss of balance
- Sluggishness of breath or absence of breathing entirely
- Tiny, pinpoint-like students
- Pale, blue or cold skin
- Seizure
- Headache
- Chest pain
- Confusion or fear
- Snoring or gurgling (snoring can imply that the individual is having a hard time to breathe)
Reacting to a drug overdose
If you or somebody around you display screens signs of an overdose, call 9-1-1 instantly. The next action is to administer the life-saving drug Naloxone.
” No waiting list here. Simply appear.”
” Naloxone quickly reverses the overdose by obstructing the results of opioids,” stated Dr. Edward Radden III, medical director of the Drug Abuse Prevention Program at the WashingtonDC VA “Everybody needs to have one of these on hand if you or somebody you understand use opioids.”
Naloxone comes in an simple-to-use nasal spray and can be gotten for totally free at any VA drug store by eligibleVeterans It is likewise totally free to the general public at any DC drug store. No prescription or ID is required. Find out more about Naloxone here.
Along with Naloxone, VA provides Veterans having a hard time with addiction numerous recovery programs that consist of:
- Cognitive Behavioral Therapy
- Motivational talking to
- Motivational enhancement therapy
- Medications
- Support system
Intensive program
Radden’s group of health care professionals lead a 10-weekintensive outpatient program At any offered time, he stated they are assisting a couple hundred Veterans in DC, Virginia and Maryland break their addictions.
” Our intensive outpatient program, which would cost hundreds of dollars a week exterior of VA, is totally free for qualified Veterans,” stated Radden. “When paired with our opiate treatment program, we can actually help you conquer your addiction.”
The opiate treatment program provides day-to-day dosages of methadone to help curb yearnings and get Veterans through withdrawals from drugs like fentanyl, heroine or oxycodone. Presently, there are about 140 Veterans in Washington DC VA Medical Center’s methadone center, making it the 3rd biggest in the VA’s system.
In spite of the numbers, Radden stated they do not put Veterans on a waiting list for gain access to to care.
” About 25% of our program individuals are here for opioid use disorders, which bring with it a high-risk of overdose. We desire to get them instanttreatment If you require assistance, simply appear. We will help you. There’s no factor not to get treatment today.”
Discover More about VA’s Drug Abuse Prevention Program