In the world of urban myths, drugs hold court, with stories that range from their potency and effect to a number of various crimes that have been undertaken in their name or under their influence. Most of these myths are harmless, but the ones that pertain to crazy home remedies for opiate overdose are extremely dangerous. You may have heard them. Hey, you may have started them. I’m here to stop the madness.

1 – Somebody came up with the idea that if you inject someone who is overdosing on an opiate drug with a salt water solution, milk or an upper like meth amphetamine or cocaine that you will miraculously bring them back to health. No. No, no, no, no, no, NO.

NO.

Don’t inject anyone with anything if they are overdosing on any drug but especially if they are overdosing on an opioid-based prescription painkiller. It doesn’t work and, worse, it wastes time. In an overdose situation, time is of the essence. You need to call 911 immediately, do CPR if necessary and wait for the paramedics to arrive.

2 – Many are under the impression that to induce vomiting is to reverse the effects of a pain pill overdose. Unfortunately, it’s not that simple. The pills are already digested if they’re overwhelming the respiratory system, so it may not help. It may also exacerbate the situation. Vomit is by nature, well, chunky. It can block the airway and choke someone who is barely or unconscious. Better to wait for the paramedics to arrive. They can decide how best to stop the action of the opiate: a shot of naloxone, stomach pump, charcoal and/or laxative.

3—Make them drink water. Or milk (what’s with the milk?). Again, no and for same reasons that you should avoid the first two myths: it won’t work, it wastes time and they could choke. Anytime someone calls 911, they always advise that you not eat or drink anything. If a surgical procedure is needed, so, too, is anesthesia. And if you vomit while under anesthesia…. Better to have an empty stomach.

Things like trying to help the person walk around or putting ice on their skin is only helpful if they are not overdosing. An overdose victim will most likely be unable to respond to stimuli of any kind, so if they are truly overdosing, dragging them around isn’t going to help anything and looking for ice only wastes time.

For more helpful information on how to handle overdose and other aspects of harm reduction, check out the Harm Reduction Coalition.

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"3 Urban Overdose Myths to Avoid Like the Plague" posted in Addiction, Harm Reduction, Opiates, Overdose.
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