Overdose Prevention 101 Guide

How to get started with overdose prevention work in your community.

 

What is an overdose?

  • A drug overdose is taking too much of a substance, whether it is - prescription, over the counter, or illicit. 

  • Drug overdoses may be accidental or intentional. 

  • Drug overdoses are preventable.

  • An overdose can lead to serious medical complications and can result in death.

  • The severity of a drug overdose depends on the drug, how it is taken, the amount taken, and the physical and medical history of the person experiencing an overdose.

 

What is overdose prevention?

Overdoses are preventable, and there is a whole field of work dedicated to stopping overdoses and overdose deaths. This includes primary prevention, management of pain therapies, harm reduction, evidence-based treatments, and recovery support. 

 

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