INTERNATIONAL OVERDOSE AWARENESS DAY
A global event is held every year to spread awareness about overdose, its effects, and symptoms, and to reduce drug-related deaths.
“Overdose” is a condition when you take more than the recommended amount of any drug that can lead to disorientation, loss of consciousness, Vomiting, diarrhea, or sometimes can also lead to death.
The United States reported 91,799 deaths due to drug overdose in 2020. The rate of deaths increased by 31% from 2019 to 2020 due to overdose of drugs.
The overdose deaths increased to 75,673 in a year in the U.S.
The drugs that are massively consumed that are responsible for the deaths include:
SYNTHETIC OPIOIDS (like morphine and codeine) target the brain to produce analgesic effects.
PSYCHOSTIMULANTS (like cocaine, methamphetamine, MDMA, and ADHD) can stimulate the central nervous system and can cause increased alertness and sudden mood upliftment.
These can cause high blood pressure, and increased heart rate which can even cause stroke or a heart attack.
Other categories of drugs also include NATURAL OPIOIDS (morphine, codeine) and SEMI-SYNTHETIC OPIOIDS (oxycodone, hydromorphone, etc.) that can also lead to serious side effects including death.
All of these can have major side effects as they depress the body’s normal functioning and will slow down the body’s central nervous system.
ADDICTION:
The opioid family includes two kinds of drugs i.e., prescription pain killers (like codeine, morphine, etc.) and illegal drugs (like heroin, and synthetic opioids). They work in the nervous system to relieve pain but frequent doses of these drugs can cause psychological as well as physical symptoms.
TREATMENT:
Rehabilitation and drug detox are the two most favoured ways to treat a drug addict.
Therapies such as counselling, and TMS (Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation)which is a brain stimulation therapy with the help of a magnetic field for the treatment of neurological and mental health conditions.
CBT (Cognitive behavioural therapy) is also a psychological treatment for depression, drug and alcohol problems, anxiety, and other mental illness.
This day is celebrated not only to remember the ones whom we have lost due to drug addiction but also to prevent this from happening to others.
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