Drug overdose
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Follow the links below to find our information partners' articles about drug overdose.
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Last reviewed: April 2020
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Drug overdose - Better Health Channel
Alcohol, medications, illegal drugs and some herbal remedies can all cause damage if an overdose is taken.
Read more on Better Health Channel website
Overdose - Alcohol and Drug Foundation
An overdose happens when a toxic amount of a drug or a combination of drugs causes a severe adverse reaction. This can happen because too much is taken or because different drugs are taken at the same time. Combining drugs increases the chances of overdose.
Read more on Alcohol and Drug Foundation website
GHB Effects, Overdose and Poisoning | Your Room
GHB comes with many short and long term side effects. Find out what to do in the case of overdose or poisoning and places to get help.
Read more on NSW Health website
What is GHB: effects, addiction, abuse and treatment - myDr.com.au
Using GHB carries a high risk of overdose due to the small difference between the amount required to produce a high and that which causes overdose.
Read more on myDr website
NBOMes - Alcohol and Drug Foundation
NBOMe (N-methoxybenzyl) is the name for a series of drugs that have hallucinogenic effects.
Read more on Alcohol and Drug Foundation website
6 lifesaving tips when taking medication - Alcohol and Drug Foundation
No medications are completely safe. The number of Australians overdosing on pharmaceutical drugs has now overtaken the road toll, the majority of these are accidental. Prescription medications are also causing many unnecessary side effects — including addiction — in an increasing number of Australians.
Read more on Alcohol and Drug Foundation website
Things to ask your GP - Alcohol and Drug Foundation
We have a problem in Australia with the over prescription of some medications, which is causing many of us unnecessary side effects including addiction and overdose. Medication overdoses are causing more deaths than the road toll.
Read more on Alcohol and Drug Foundation website
Take Home Naloxone
Naloxone is a medicine that reverses the effects of an opioid overdose. NSW Health is now providing naloxone for free to people at risk of witnessing or experiencing opioid overdose.
Read more on NSW Health website
Safe and appropriate use of paracetamol: closing the consumer knowledge gap - NPS MedicineWise
Paracetamol is commonly used, but misuse and overdoses do occur. Patient education on the safe use of paracetamol is crucial in preventing accidental overdose.
Read more on NPS MedicineWise website
Cocaine: tolerance and dependence - myDr.com.au
After prolonged use, cocaine is highly addictive and with regular use, larger amounts of cocaine are needed to get the same effect.
Read more on myDr website
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Fentanyl in the Australian illicit drug market - Alcohol and Drug Foundation
Fentanyl is commonly used for pain management in clinical settings. It is now showing up, however, in some illicit drugs, including other opioids, around the world - in particular North America and Canada, where it has been found in samples of drugs, such as heroin.
Read more on Alcohol and Drug Foundation website
Educating GPs on the over-prescription of pharmaceuticals - Alcohol and Drug Foundation
The rescheduling of pharmaceuticals that include codeine will tighten access to these drugs from 1 February. This makes now a timely moment to consider some of the wider measures that GPs can take to improve patient outcomes and avoid the over-prescription of some medications.
Read more on Alcohol and Drug Foundation website
Educating GPs on the over-prescription of pharmaceuticals - Alcohol and Drug Foundation
The rescheduling of pharmaceuticals that include codeine will tighten access to these drugs from 1 February. This makes now a timely moment to consider some of the wider measures that GPs can take to improve patient outcomes and avoid the over-prescription of some medications.
Read more on Alcohol and Drug Foundation website
Community use of naloxone for opioid overdose | Issue 4 | Volume 40 | Australian Prescriber | Australian Prescriber
Will training laypeople in the use of naloxone reduce accidental opioid overdose deaths?
Read more on Australian Prescriber website
Naloxone nasal spray (Nyxoid) for opioid overdose - NPS MedicineWise
Naloxone nasal spray is a fast-acting opioid antagonist now PBS-listed for use in the community. Find out more.
Read more on NPS MedicineWise website
Take home naloxone pilot | Australian Government Department of Health
The Australian Government is investing in a pilot program to make naloxone available free to people who may experience, or witness, an opioid overdose.
Read more on Department of Health website
Management of digoxin toxicity | Issue 1 | Volume 39 | Australian Prescriber
Digoxin toxicity can emerge during long-term therapy for heart failure as well as after an overdose.
Read more on Australian Prescriber website
If not opioids, then what? - NPS MedicineWise
Opioid medicines for chronic pain continue to pose a challenge in primary health care. Read the latest evidence supported by conversations with GP Dr Andrew Broad and clinical psychologist Associate Professor Toby Newton-John.
Read more on NPS MedicineWise website
Managing osteoarthritis | Issue 4 | Volume 38 | Australian Prescriber
Management of osteoarthritis should be based on a combination of non-drug and drug treatments targeted towards prevention, modifying risk and disease...
Read more on Australian Prescriber website
Dealing with drug-seeking behaviour | Issue 3 | Volume 39 | Australian Prescriber
People who misuse prescription drugs most commonly seek prescriptions for opioids and benzodiazepines. Other...
Read more on Australian Prescriber website
