What Happens to Your Brain and Body When You Overdose on Drugs?
America is in the midst of an opioid epidemic. Overdose is when someone takes a critically toxic amount of an illicit or prescription drug or mixes multiple drugs. When someone experiences opioid overdose from substance abuse of pain medications, the body reacts in multiple ways to the large number of drugs in the system. The person overdosing may feel confused or act like they’re in a stupor. They may experience a lack of consciousness. Their heart rate may slow and they may have difficulty or have stopped breathing. They may vomit, have low body temperature, or lose skin color. They may seize or experience respiratory arrest. Drugs like opiates dampen people’s nervous systems to the point of lethal concern. Overdoses are always a medical emergency and have grown in number as a public health and mental health crisis. If you think someone is overdosing, call 911 immediately.