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International Overdose Awareness Day (IOAD), held annually on 31 August, is a global event dedicated to raising awareness around overdose, reducing the societal stigma surrounding drug-related deaths, and remembering those who have lost their lives to overdose.
Founded in 2001, and convened since 2012 by the Australian not-for-profit, the Pennington Institute, IOAD is the world’s largest campaign to end overdose, and provides a platform for education and open discussion, encouraging greater understanding of the risks associated with drug use.
The day also serves as a call to action, urging communities, policymakers, and healthcare professionals to work together to prevent overdoses through early intervention, and by offering support to those affected by substance use.
Understanding overdose
A drug overdose occurs when an individual consumes more of a substance than their body can safely process.
It is possible to overdose on a wide variety of drugs, including illegal drugs, prescription medications – when taken improperly or without medical supervision – and alcohol. The risk of overdose is also increased when different substances are taken together (e.g. alcohol and cocaine).
The latest figures on drug-related deaths published by the Health Research Board (HRB), show that there were 409 deaths related to drug poisoning in 2020 alone.
Around 8 in 10 of those deaths involved more than one drug, 7 in 10 involved opioid use, and 67% involved prescription or over-the-counter drugs.
Related: Buyer beware – what are users really getting when they buy drugs on the street?
How to spot the signs of an overdose
Although the signs of an overdose can vary significantly depending on the substance involved, there are some common signs you can look out for if you are concerned someone is experiencing an overdose:
- Loss of consciousness
- Shallow breathing or not breathing at all
- Unusual snoring and/or gurgling noises
- Floppy arms and legs
- Pinprick-sized pupils that do not respond to light
- Unable to wake the person up
- Blue/grey fingertips and/or lips
- Unresponsive to talking, shaking or noises
Being able to spot the signs of an overdose as soon as it occurs can help prevent an overdose from becoming fatal.
If you suspect someone is experiencing an overdose, it is critical to act quickly by contacting the emergency services immediately. It is also advisable to stay with the person until help arrives.
Accredited drug testing you can trust
As a leading provider of drug testing for peace of mind, the legal and social work professions, and the workplace, we are all too familiar with the impact that drug misuse (and overdose) can have on vulnerable people and their families.
Drug testing can play a critical role in identifying substance misuse early on, allowing for timely intervention, and helping affected individuals access the support and treatment they need – reducing the risk of overdose in the long term.
Our accredited laboratory tests for the widest variety of substances, using a range of samples including hair, nails, oral fluid, and urine.
We also operate walk-in centres in Dublin and Belfast, where our professional Sample Collectors can collect all sample types for analysis at our laboratory.
For more information or to request a quote for drug testing, call 01 402 9466 or email info@alphabiolabs.ie.
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