By using this site, you agree to the Privacy Policy and Terms of Use.
Accept
Health Works CollectiveHealth Works CollectiveHealth Works Collective
  • Health
    • Mental Health
    Health
    Healthcare organizations are operating on slimmer profit margins than ever. One report in August showed that they are even lower than the beginning of the…
    Show More
    Top News
    medicare part d benefits
    Everything that You Need to Know About Medicare Part D
    August 15, 2022
    Best Ways to Boost Your Immune System this Winter
    Best Ways to Boost Your Immune System this Winter
    November 15, 2022
    back pain issues
    Ways to Treat Constant Back Pain
    August 21, 2023
    Latest News
    How Probate Planning Shapes the Future of Your Estate and Family Care
    July 17, 2025
    Beyond Nutrition: Everyday Foods That Support Whole-Body Health
    June 15, 2025
    The Wide-Ranging Benefits of Magnesium Supplements
    June 11, 2025
    The Best Home Remedies for Migraines
    June 5, 2025
  • Policy and Law
    • Global Healthcare
    • Medical Ethics
    Policy and Law
    Get the latest updates about Insurance policies and Laws in the Healthcare industry for different geographical locations.
    Show More
    Top News
    More On Wellness Programs To Improve Health and Reduce Costs
    January 25, 2012
    Privatizing Social Security and Medicare: Who Can Defuse Political Dynamite?
    June 12, 2011
    Study: Risk of Death in Elderly Patients with Dementia Doubled with Some Antipsychotic Medications
    February 26, 2012
    Latest News
    How IT and Marketing Teams Can Collaborate to Protect Patient Trust
    July 17, 2025
    How Health Choices and Legal Actions Intersect After an Injury
    July 17, 2025
    How communities and healthcare providers can address slip and fall injuries with legal awareness
    July 17, 2025
    Let Your Lawyer Handle the Work Before You Pay Medical Costs
    July 6, 2025
  • Medical Innovations
  • News
  • Wellness
  • Tech
Search
© 2023 HealthWorks Collective. All Rights Reserved.
Reading: Opiate Overdose Symptoms Families of Addicts Must Know
Share
Notification Show More
Font ResizerAa
Health Works CollectiveHealth Works Collective
Font ResizerAa
Search
Follow US
  • About
  • Contact
  • Privacy
© 2023 HealthWorks Collective. All Rights Reserved.
Health Works Collective > Policy & Law > Health care > Opiate Overdose Symptoms Families of Addicts Must Know
Health carePublic HealthWellness

Opiate Overdose Symptoms Families of Addicts Must Know

Ryan Kh
Ryan Kh
Share
5 Min Read
SHARE

Opiate addiction is a growing problem throughout the United States. The National Institute on Drug Abuse reports that over 2.1 million Americans suffer from opiate addictions. An estimated 26.4 million to 36 million people around the world abuse opiates. The problems caused by opiate addiction can be either be very gradual or very quick. If patients abuse opiates for years, they can suffer extreme liver damage, impairment of cognitive functioning and risk of certain cancers. If they overdose, they can be permanently disabled or die within hours.

Contents
Pay Attention to the Symptoms of Opiate OverdoseConfusion or DeliriumMood SwingsNausea and VomitingSeizuresGet Treatment Immediately

Pay Attention to the Symptoms of Opiate Overdose

Opiate overdose can cause long-term damage or even death. According to American Addiction Centers, over 14,000 people died from abusing opiates in 2014 and the numbers are rising rapidly ever year. Patients suffering from opiate overdoses need medical attention immediately. ?Opioid painkiller addiction is a rapidly growing problem in the US. In fact, addiction to these substances has been declared an epidemic, with many lawmakers seeking ways to end addiction to these powerful painkillers, as well as limit access. Since 2000, overdose deaths from prescription opioid painkillers have risen dramatically, with more than 14,000 deaths in 2014 attributed to prescription painkiller overdose.? Family members of prescription drug addicts need to understand the opiate overdose symptoms, so they can take preventive action. Here are some common symptoms.

Confusion or Delirium

When patients overdose on opiates, they may appear intoxicated or exhibit the symptoms of someone under the influence of other drugs. This can lead to a number of symptoms, including:

  • Delirium
  • Disorientation
  • Hallucinations

These symptoms may even be present in patients that are taking opiates under the guidance of a doctor. According to a study by Romayne Gallagher, the Head of the Division of Residential Care for Providence Health and Clinical Professor in the Division of Palliative Care at the University of British Columbia in Vancouver, patients may experience these symptoms within two weeks after reaching a therapeutic opiate dose.

More Read

Consumers Putting Off Medical Care & Risking Health
Are Cutting Edge New Depression Therapies Key To Improving Treatment?
New Quality Site
Life Expectancy Paradox Explained by Smoking
Gamification and Government Health Care

Mood Swings

Patients that abuse opiates often suffer from extreme fluctuations in their moods. Without a knowledge of their addiction, a psychiatrist could mistake these symptoms for bipolar disorder or another mood disorder. If patients suffer from both mood disorders and opiate abuse, it can be difficult to identify their behavior as an opiate overdose. Family members and healthcare providers must look for other red flags, because the consequences of an opiate overdose are severe.

Nausea and Vomiting

Nausea and vomiting are two of the most common symptoms of opiate abuse. Vomiting is often a warning sign that the body is trying to reject excess opiates. If the body fails to get rid of them, the patient is at risk of opiate poisoning.

Seizures

Seizures are another symptom of opiate addiction. They are also among the most serious. If patients begin to suffer from seizures, they may be at risk of the following:

  • Brain damage
  • Stroke
  • Asphyxiation
  • Potential death

Seizures should be treated as a medical emergency, especially if the patient had abused opiates recently. You need to determine how many opiates they took and see if they exceeded the recommended dose. Keep in mind that the risk of overdosing can be higher if people have taken a break from opiate use, because they may use the same doses after their tolerance levels have fallen.

Get Treatment Immediately

The Recovery Village

has a list of clinics that patients can go to seek treatment in their area. The lists are organized geographically, which makes it easier for anyone to find the nearest clinic. However, these clinics are generally setup for long-term recovery from addiction. If you think someone has abused opiates, you should look into getting them emergency medical help. If a friend or family member is suffering from opiate abuse, you need to make sure they get immediate assistance. They can face serious health problems without treatment.

TAGGED:opiate addictionopiate overdose
Share This Article
Facebook Copy Link Print
Share
By Ryan Kh
Follow:
Ryan Kh is an experienced blogger, digital content & social marketer. Founder of Catalyst For Business and contributor to search giants like Yahoo Finance, MSN. He is passionate about covering topics like big data, business intelligence, startups & entrepreneurship. Email: ryankh14@icloud.com

Stay Connected

1.5kFollowersLike
4.5kFollowersFollow
2.8kFollowersPin
136kSubscribersSubscribe

Latest News

Grounded Healing: A Natural Ally for Sustainable Healthcare Systems
How IT and Marketing Teams Can Collaborate to Protect Patient Trust
Global Healthcare Policy & Law
July 17, 2025
paramedics in surgical gloves and masks
How Health Choices and Legal Actions Intersect After an Injury
Health care
July 16, 2025
a woman giving a key
How Probate Planning Shapes the Future of Your Estate and Family Care
Health
July 16, 2025
a woman with kinesio tapes on her back arm
How communities and healthcare providers can address slip and fall injuries with legal awareness
Health care
July 16, 2025

You Might also Like

stay healthy during the holidays
Home HealthWellness

11 Tools to Make Your Holiday Season Healthier and More Joyous

December 18, 2020
is red meat healthy
CardiologyWellness

Bacteria, Heart Disease, and Red Meat

April 15, 2013

Innovating The Nurse Practitioner Role in Chronic Disease Management

August 26, 2012
Health careWellness

The Uses and the Health Benefits of the Organic CBD Oil

December 16, 2018
Subscribe
Subscribe to our newsletter to get our newest articles instantly!
Follow US
© 2008-2025 HealthWorks Collective. All Rights Reserved.
  • About
  • Contact
  • Privacy
Welcome Back!

Sign in to your account

Username or Email Address
Password

Lost your password?