By Chloe Kunnemann, Guest Columnist
This week’s mental health column focuses on preventing opioid abuse and the dangers of mixing drugs.
An overdose can occur because of different drugs, but primarily, it is caused by mixing drugs. Opioid overdoses are when the individual is unresponsive to stimulation and/or their breathing is inadequate.
The use of high amounts of opioids or a combination of opioids can lead to an overdose. Opioids cause such a response because of the receptors the drugs affect that control breathing. This creates a lack of oxygen levels in the blood and can make lips and fingers appear blue. The lack of oxygen then affects organs like the heart, followed by the brain, causing unconsciousness, coma and then death.
Mixing stimulants can have extremely serious consequences, such as brain injury, liver damage, heart attack and stroke. Stimulants used by themselves can increase the individual’s heart rate and blood pressure to dangerous levels.
The signs of an overdose include fast breathing, increased body temperature, nausea, chest pain, seizures and tremors.
Mixing stimulants with depressants can cause masking of the actual effects of the drugs. This may lead to the individual not feeling the effects, making it easier to overdose.
If you or someone you know needs to talk to someone, dial 988, a helpline for immediate crisis and non-emergency assistance for mental health and substance use issues. For serious medical problems or any imminent, life-threatening situation, dial 911.
Northwestern student Chloe Kunnemann wrote this column on behalf on the Northwestern Counseling & Career Services Office.