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If you think someone has overdosed on a medicine or an illegal substance, call triple zero (000) for an ambulance.
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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Alcohol, medications, illegal drugs and some herbal remedies can all cause damage if an overdose is taken.
Read more on Better Health Channel website
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
Emergency and overdose drug testing is requested for single drugs or groups of drugs by an A&E or Intensive Care doctor to detect, assess, and monitor so
Read more on Pathology Tests Explained website
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
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
NBOMe (N-methoxybenzyl) is the name for a series of drugs that have hallucinogenic effects.
Read more on Alcohol and Drug Foundation website
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
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
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
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 is requested for single drugs or groups of drugs by an A&E or Intensive Care doctor to detect, assess, and monitor so
Read more on Pathology Tests Explained website
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
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
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
While naloxone is important for preventing deaths from heroin overdoses, it should also be considered for people taking prescription opioids.
Read more on Australian Prescriber website
The plasma paracetamol (or acetaminophen) concentration is being measured.
Read more on Pathology Tests Explained website
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 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
Salicylates are a group of drugs, including aspirin, available as both prescription and non-prescription (over-the-counter) medications. The plasma concentra
Read more on Pathology Tests Explained website
Taking excessive amounts of vitamin and mineral supplements is expensive and potentially harmful.
Read more on Australian Prescriber website
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