overdose

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what is overdose?

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This is a brief overview of how some drugs affect our brain. 
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​Accidental drug overdose is currently the leading cause of death in the United States for those under 50.

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THE DANGERS OF mixing ALCOHOLIC DRINKS AND XANAX 

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Both Xanax and alcohol depress the central nervous system, which is responsible for your breathing. Taking both of these drugs can result in breathing becoming so slow and shallow that death ultimately results. 

The Autonomic Nervous System sends a signal to your body to breathe without you having to think about it, if this gets shut down, you forget to breathe/ can't send a signal from your brain to your body that says "breathe".
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​​https://www.alcohol.org/mixing-with/xanax/

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​These medications cause the messages being sent through the body by the nervous system to slow down in one way or another.

​Slowing down the CNS results in the following:
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• Drowsiness
• Relaxation
• Slowed cognitive function
• Slowed heart rate and breathing
• Decreased anxiety
• Decreased coordination

​Other Benzodiazepines:
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• Alprazolam
• Ativan
• Chlordiazepoxide
• Clonazepam
• Diazepam
• Klonopin
• Librium
• Lorazepam
• Valium
• Xanax​

​It is important to follow the prescribed dose and medical instruction for these medications because they are powerful opioids and benzos. 

Two of the most common opioid painkillers are Vicodin, which is a combination of hydrocodone and acetaminophen, and oxycodone, which is found in prescription medications like Percocet and OxyContin.

Benzodiazepines are a family of medications that are prescribed to treat anxiety, alcohol withdrawal, muscle spasms, and seizures. They induce relaxation in the central nervous system and allow muscles to relax.

​Two of the most commonly prescribed benzodiazepines are Xanax (alprazolam) and Valium (diazepam). ​

Benzodiazepines are a class of psychoactive drugs. 

​Benzos work to calm or sedate a person, by raising the level of the inhibitory neurotransmitter GABA in the brain.

The body responds by reducing the neuroreceptors so it is common to need a higher dose to get the same effect.
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https://americanaddictioncenters.org/prescription-drugs/dangers-of-mixing

​Signs of overdose: 
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• Trouble breathing or inability to breathe.
  
• Fear of not being able to breathe.
• Bluish fingernails and lips.
• Confusion and disorientation.
• Extreme dizziness.
• Blurred vision or double vision.
• Weakness.
• Uncoordinated muscle movements.
• Tremors.
• Profoundly altered mental status.
• Stupor.
• Coma.

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https://drugabuse.com/benzodiazepines/overdose/ 

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Over 30,000 people die this way every year!

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Inform your friends.

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If a friend is overdosing please call 911, it is not just a nap, please do not just "take care of them" by putting a blanket on them, they might be about to stop breathing.

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Narcan/ Naloxone can help with some forms of overdose, particularly heroin/opiods

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