HealthInfo West Coast-Te Tai Poutini

Drug overdose

Ratonga-rawa pūroi

A drug overdose happens as a result of a person taking too much of a drug. Drugs can be swallowed, breathed in or injected.

The drug can be a prescribed medicine, an over-the-counter medicine or a recreational drug. A drug overdose may be deliberate or accidental.

Effects differ depending on the drug overdosed on.

How to tell if someone has taken a drug overdose

Someone who has taken a drug overdose will show some of the following symptoms:

• confusion – they may claim to hear voices or see things
• sleepiness, which can lead to them losing consciousness
• unusually small or large pupils
• stomach pain
• nausea and vomiting
• overheating and sweating
• excitable behaviour
• hands shaking.

Helping someone who has taken a drug overdose

• Call 111 and ask for an ambulance.
• Stay calm and reassure the person.
• If they're conscious, get them into a comfortable position.
• If they aren't conscious but breathing, follow the advice in Unconscious but breathing, including lying them on their side in the recovery position.
• If they aren't breathing, start CPR.
• If possible, try to find out what they have taken and how much of it they have taken. If there are any containers or syringes, keep them to give to ambulance staff.
• Stay with them and wait for the ambulance.
• If someone tells you they took an overdose a day or two ago, make sure they go to their general practice team for an urgent assessment, even if they say they're fine.

Written by HealthInfo clinical advisers. Last reviewed December 2022.

Sources

Page reference: 285549

Review key: HIFAD-141030