Drug overdose
Follow the links below to find our information partners' articles about drug overdose.
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Last reviewed: April 2022
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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
Emergency and Overdose Drug Testing - Pathology Tests Explained
drug screening, toxicology, abuse
Read more on Pathology Tests Explained 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
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
Take Home Naloxone
Naloxone is a medicine that reverses the effects of an opioid overdose. NSW Health is provides naloxone for free to people at risk of witnessing or experiencing opioid overdose
Read more on NSW Health website
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Emergency and Overdose Drug Testing - Pathology Tests Explained
drug screening, toxicology, abuse
Read more on Pathology Tests Explained website
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
Paracetamol - Pathology Tests Explained
Paracetamol: why and when to get tested
Read more on Pathology Tests Explained website
Adverse Drug Reactions | Ausmed
Adverse drug reactions are unwanted or harmful reactions to medicines that were taken under normal conditions of use. About 250 000 Australians are hospitalised every year for medicine-related reasons, including ADRs. Over half of these hospitalisations are thought to be preventable.
Read more on Ausmed Education website
Harm Reduction for Alcohol and Drug Consumption | Ausmed
Harm reduction aims to decrease the risk of negative effects associated with ongoing alcohol and drug use in those who are unable or unwilling to stop. The aim of harm reduction is to prevent harm to both the individual and the greater community as much as possible.
Read more on Ausmed Education website
Salicylate - Pathology Tests Explained
Salicylate: why and when to get tested
Read more on Pathology Tests Explained website
Epilepsy Overview and Care | Ausmed
Epilepsy is a chronic neurological condition that causes an individual to experience recurrent seizures. It is the most common neurological disorder, affecting about 4% of Australians. Epilepsy may be a life-long condition, but seizures can often be controlled using medication.
Read more on Ausmed Education website
RACGP - Managing high risk opioid prescribing
The aim of this article is to discuss the concept of high-risk opioid prescribing, as well as relevant management strategies for patients on >100 mg oral morphine equivalent daily dose (OMEDD)
Read more on RACGP - The Royal Australian College of General Practitioners website
