Drug emergencies
Dealing with a drug emergency involving you or a friend.
Taking drugs can lead to an emergency situation when you or a friend suffer a bad drug reaction, mix drugs with alcohol or take too much. It's important that you know how to help in a drugs emergency and who to contact for support.
Depending on what drug has been taken and the effects on different people, there are different ways that you can help. You should take a course in First Aid and Resuscitation so you can help anyone who is in trouble. Ask in your local swimming pool or youth information centre about First Aid courses.
If you or someone you know has an urgent drugs and/or alcohol problem, for example: taken an overdose, fear the drug has been contaminated or experienced an unusual reaction to a drug then you should immediately: Go to the A&E department of the nearest hospital or CALL 999 Emergency Services.
The doctors and hospitals in your area will be listed in the Golden Pages: www.goldenpages.ie.
When someone feels fear, tense or panicky:
Speed, cannabis, ecstasy, acid and magic mushrooms can sometimes make you feel tense, frightened or panicky. Other drugs can have the same effect if you react badly to them.
How to help:
- Calm and reassure the person in difficulty. Speak normally and don't show signs of panicking yourself.
- Remind them that the effects of the drug will wear off.
- Take them somewhere quiet with low lights.
- If they are having problems breathing then calm them down and ask them to breathe slowly and deeply.
When someone feels drowsy:
Heroin, solvents, alcohol or tranquillisers can make you feel very drowsy, faint or pass out.
How to help:
- Call an ambulance on 999 right away. Stay with the person until it arrives.
- Keep talking to them, and reassuring them in a calm voice so as to help keep them awake.
- Don't shake them or frighten them in an attempt to wake them up.
- Never give them coffee, it won't help and might make the effects of the drug worse.
- If they are not getting better, put them lying on their side, in the recovery position so that they won't choke if they vomit.
- If you call an ambulance stay with them until it arrives and then tell the ambulance people what drugs were taken and if they also had alcohol.
When someone is overheating
Ecstasy, speed or any drug that raises your body temperature can cause overheating. You might become dehydrated and too hot. This could be after dancing and warning signs include fainting, tiredness, exhaustion or cramps.
How to help:
- Take them somewhere cooler and quiet. Stay with them all the time.
- Take off any extra clothing that they're wearing.
- Get them water to sip or anything that doesn't contain alcohol. Try and get them to drink about a pint every hour.
- If they're not getting better call an ambulance on 999. Make sure that somebody stays with them even if one person has to leave to call for help.
- If you call an ambulance stay with them until it arrives and then tell the ambulance people what drugs were taken and if they also had alcohol or anything else.
When someone is unconscious
A lot of alcohol or too much of most drugs can cause you to pass out or go into a state of unconsciousness.
How to help:
- Call an ambulance on 999 right away. Make sure someone stays with them even if one person has to leave to call for help. If you're alone, go and call help then get back to them ASAP.
- Make sure they're breathing. If you think they're not give mouth-to-mouth resuscitation or shout for someone to help who knows emergency resuscitation. Keep shouting until help arrives.
- Put them lying on their side in the recovery position, so that they don't choke.
- If you call an ambulance stay with them until it arrives and then tell the ambulance people what drugs were taken and if they also had alcohol or anything else.
Further information:
-
Drugs/ HIV Helpline
Tel: 1800 459 459 (Freephone)
Offers support, information, guidance and referral to anyone with a question or concern related to drug and alcohol use and/or HIV and sexual health. -
www.drugs.ie providing information, support and counselling in relation to drugs, substance misuse or addiction.
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