Fact Checked
Drug poisoning can occur with both prescribed, over-the-counter or even illegal drugs. Poisons are substances that can result to brief or lasting damage if excessively absorbed by the body.
Remember that the effects tend to vary on the type of drug and how it was taken such as by inhaling, swallowing or injecting.
What are the indications?
If an individual is suspected with drug poisoning, there are indications that you should watch out for:
- Abdominal pain
- Nausea and vomiting
- Sweating
Sleepiness that leads to evident unresponsiveness - Sleepiness that leads to evident unresponsiveness
- Excitable hyperactive behavior
- Confusion and deliriousness
- Shaking hands
- Unusually fast or slow pulse rate
- Hallucinations
- Unusually small or large pupils
- Needle marks that might be infected
What should I do?
- Call for immediate medical attention right away. If the individual is unresponsive, place him/her in a comfortable position and ask what he/she has taken.
- Try to gather as much information as possible. While waiting for the emergency team to arrive, check for any containers or packaging that can be used to identify the drugs.
- Make sure that the pulse, breathing and level of responsiveness is monitored.
- If the individual loses responsiveness at some point, open his/her airway, check the breathing and prepare to provide the appropriate measures.
- Do not induce the individual to vomit, but if he/she is already vomiting, catch some of the vomit into a container or bag so that the healthcare professionals can use it to identify the drug.
More Information / Disclaimer
The information posted on this page on drug poisoning is for learning purposes only. Learn to recognize and manage poisoning from drugs by taking a standard first aid course with Saskatoon First Aid.