Drug addiction An individual affected by drug addiction preparing a dose of heroin. (more) drug overdose Ask the Chatbot a Question More Actions Share Share Share to social media Facebook X URL https://www.britannica.com/topic/drug-overdose Feedback Corrections? Updates? Omissions? Let us know if you have suggestions to improve this article (requires login). Feedback Type Select a type (Required) Factual Correction Spelling/Grammar Correction Link Correction Additional Information Other Your Feedback Submit Feedback Thank you for your feedback Our editors will review what you’ve submitted and determine whether to revise the article.

　　External Websites Ask the Chatbot a Question Written by Frannie Comstock Frannie Comstock is a writer based in Chicago. Frannie Comstock Fact-checked by The Editors of Encyclopaedia Britannica Encyclopaedia Britannica's editors oversee subject areas in which they have extensive knowledge, whether from years of experience gained by working on that content or via study for an advanced degree. They write new content and verify and edit content received from contributors. The Editors of Encyclopaedia Britannica Last Updated: Jan 27, 2025 • Article History Table of Contents Table of Contents Ask the Chatbot a Question { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@type": "FAQPage", "mainEntity": [ { "@type" : "Question", "name" : " What is a drug overdose? ", "acceptedAnswer" : { "@type" : "Answer", "text" : "A drug overdose is the ingestion or administration of a drug or drugs in an amount that exceeds recommended levels, resulting in toxicity. It can involve prescription, over-the-counter, or recreational drugs and can be intentional or accidental." } } , { "@type" : "Question", "name" : " Which drugs are commonly involved in overdoses? ", "acceptedAnswer" : { "@type" : "Answer", "text" : "Common drugs involved in overdoses include opioids, particularly fentanyl, heroin, and morphine. Benzodiazepines, antidepressants, and stimulants, including cocaine, amphetamine, and methamphetamine, are also frequently involved. Over-the-counter medications associated with overdose often include pain relievers, cough medications, and laxatives." } } , { "@type" : "Question", "name" : " What are the risk factors for drug overdose? ", "acceptedAnswer" : { "@type" : "Answer", "text" : "Risk factors include a history of drug use, a substance use disorder, mental health conditions, recent changes in drug tolerance, access to large quantities of drugs, use of illegal drugs of unknown composition, and improper drug storage." } } , { "@type" : "Question", "name" : " How is a drug overdose treated? ", "acceptedAnswer" : { "@type" : "Answer", "text" : "Treatment for drug overdose varies but often involves the use of activated charcoal, gastric lavage, and intravenous fluids. Certain other drugs may be used to reverse an overdose, such as naloxone in the case of opioids. Mechanical ventilation or oxygen therapy is sometimes necessary to assist breathing. Survivors may benefit from cognitive behavior therapy and education on drug use." } } ] } Top Questions What is a drug overdose? A drug overdose is the ingestion or administration of a drug or drugs in an amount that exceeds recommended levels, resulting in toxicity. It can involve prescription, over-the-counter, or recreational drugs and can be intentional or accidental.

　　Which drugs are commonly involved in overdoses? Common drugs involved in overdoses include opioids, particularly fentanyl, heroin, and morphine. Benzodiazepines, antidepressants, and stimulants, including cocaine, amphetamine, and methamphetamine, are also frequently involved. Over-the-counter medications associated with overdose often include pain relievers, cough medications, and laxatives.

　　What are the risk factors for drug overdose? Risk factors include a history of drug use, a substance use disorder, mental health conditions, recent changes in drug tolerance, access to large quantities of drugs, use of illegal drugs of unknown composition, and improper drug storage.

　　How is a drug overdose treated? Treatment for drug overdose varies but often involves the use of activated charcoal, gastric lavage, and intravenous fluids. Certain other drugs may be used to reverse an overdose, such as naloxone in the case of opioids. Mechanical ventilation or oxygen therapy is sometimes necessary to assist breathing. Survivors may benefit from cognitive behavior therapy and education on drug use.

　　drug overdose, ingestion or administration of a drug or drugs in an amount that exceeds recommended levels or quantities typically used, resulting in toxicity. Drug overdose can occur with prescription, over-the-counter, or recreational drugs and can be intentional or accidental. Symptoms vary based on the type of substance and the amount taken. In some instances, drug overdose is fatal. A large number of drug overdoses involve opioids, examples of which include codeine, fentanyl, heroin, morphine, and oxycodone. Methadone, which is used to treat opioid addiction, also has the potential to cause overdose. Other drugs commonly associated with overdose are benzodiazepines, ...(100 of 638 words)

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