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What to Do If Your Loved One Overdoses

two seated individuals with one holding the others hands attempting to understand what to do if your loved one overdoses

If you believe your loved one has overdosed on alcohol, cocaine, crystal meth, heroin, prescription drugs, or another substance, do not attempt to treat the issue at home. Call 911 immediately.

An overdose from drugs or alcohol is a serious issue and can result in seizures, heart attack, stroke, coma, and death if not treated early and properly. Depending upon the type of drug taken by your loved one, the treatment will vary. You can help by calling authorities immediately, attempting no at-home remedies, and giving medical professionals all the information they need to best care for your loved one.

If you want addiction help for a loved one, consider enrolling them in drug and alcohol addiction treatment at Michael’s House. We can provide them with the treatment they need to learn to live without their drug of choice. Call 760.548.4032 today to learn what to do about an overdose, especially a loved one who overdoses.

Types of Treatment for a Loved One Who Overdoses

There are several different ways that medical professionals may choose to approach treatment for your loved one’s drug overdose. These include:

  • Gastric lavage – Otherwise known as “stomach pumping,” this procedure flushes any unabsorbed drugs out of the system before they have a chance to make matters worse.
  • Charcoal – Activated charcoal is often given to overdose victims to reduce the amount of drugs absorbed into the blood by blocking them in the stomach and intestines. The drugs are released from the body through the stool, a process often activated by a cathartic that is given to the patient at the same time as the charcoal.
  • Naltrexone and other drugs – If your loved one overdosed on an opiate medication like Percodan or Lorcet or is experiencing a heroin overdose, emergency personnel may administer a drug called naltrexone. This drug works by binding to the receptors that normally bind with opiate medications, blocking the effects of the drugs in the system. This drug works immediately but does not remove the drugs from the body. In time, the effects of naltrexone will wear off before the drugs have a chance to “wear off” naturally, so medical care is required for a period after administration.

Any one of these treatments may be the critical difference in helping your loved one survive an overdose. Call 760.548.4032 today to learn more about what to do when someone overdoses.

What to Expect When Emergency Professionals Arrive to Treat a Drug Overdose

After you call 911, the operator may ask for some information from you. The operator will give this information to the emergency personnel so they can better prepare to treat your loved one before they arrive. You will likely be asked the following information about your loved one:

  • Age
  • Weight
  • Height
  • Gender of your loved one
  • What substance or substances led to the overdose

It is helpful if you have the prescription drug bottle or any leftover drugs that they didn’t use to give to the medical professionals.

The operator may or may not instruct you on how to care for your loved one while you await the arrival of emergency professionals. Follow these instructions closely and remain on the line until help arrives.

When help arrives, it may be necessary to restrain your loved one if they are agitated or violent. It’s not easy to watch but remember—they are only doing as much as they have to do to protect themselves and your loved one in order to administer treatment.

If a Loved One Overdosed Recently, Contact Michael’s House for Treatment Options

If your loved one has recently overdosed, they need help. They need treatment to prevent them from experiencing an overdose again in the future. Michael’s House is available to provide your loved one with an addiction treatment program that meets their needs. Contact us today to learn more about our addiction recovery programs and how we can help you and your loved one begin the journey. Call 760.548.4032 or reach out online.

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