When going through an overdose, there is very little time to set things straight. Getting help with drug addiction is a multistep process, and requires a lot of patience. Instead of waiting for things to go wrong, take charge of the situation. It may turn out that you are the difference-maker in your friend’s life.
5. Get Immediate Medical Attention
Call for the help of those nearby and then get on the phone with emergency services. Someone nearby may have more experience than you in handling this situation. It also helps to have extra hands for various reasons, including when needing to move someone.
The phone call is a bit different and requires being calm to relay important information. Take a deep breath, assess the situation, and then talk to the person on the other line.
4. Provide Truthful Details
This is the most important part about the phone call you place to emergency services. Omitting even the smallest detail will put your friend in danger. The person on the other side of the phone is a professional and is not there to judge your decisions. Be honest about the drugs and anything else that could be relevant to the current overdose. Small details can make the difference between life and death. If you’re unsure about the current location, be as descriptive as possible so they can find you.
3. Are There Any Other Medical Conditions?
Is your friend currently taking any other medications? Do they currently have a condition that is problematic? Knowing the answer to these two questions is always helpful information. Even if you’re caught off guard, there is still a way to check. Some medical conditions require that a medical alert bracelet is worn. If one isn’t available, then check their pockets or bags for any medication. There is a good chance that you will find relevant prescription information that can help. There is also a minor chance that you will find more drugs that led to the current overdose.
2. Don’t Be An Enabler
Even after emergency services handles the situation, consider it the beginning of a very long recovery. The biggest mistake you can make is to assume that the hospital and doctors have handled the situation. Their job is to handle the physical health of your friend after the overdose. Your job is to make sure that your friend is mentally stable, and won’t continue to do physical harm to their bodies. Acting like everything is back to normal after an emergency visit will only normalize a very unreal situation.
1. Treatment Is Not Optional
Instead of telling your friend that you would like them to go to treatment, demand it. Make it mandatory. This applies to the initial emergency visit and after a hospital stay. The victim in an overdose can decline medical attention. If they accept medical attention, there is no guarantee that they won’t overdose after leaving the hospital. Don’t leave it up to chance, and make your stand immediately during and after an overdose. Your friend’s life depends on it.
Wrap Up
Use this guide to save the life of a friend or a loved one. Drugs are no joke, and the last thing you want is to be uninformed during an emergency. The real work with dealing with an overdose happens after the incident. This will require professional help as offered by alcohol and drug rehab Bali Becoming the voice of reason is the right thing to do when drugs are involved.
