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Beach House Recovery Center » Blog » How to Cope with the Emotional Effects after a Drug Overdose
Drug overdose is the fastest-growing cause of death in the United States. The majority of fatalities—as many as 125 a day—are from prescription or illegal opioids, with one in three deaths involving prescription painkillers, and one in four overdoses caused by heroin.
Regardless of the specific drug involved, even non-fatal overdoses leave emotional aftereffects of guilt, anger and anxiety. This article will look briefly at the physical issues involved, then will present ideas on how to cope with the emotional effects after a drug overdose. The material will be useful both for those who have lost loved ones to overdose, and for those in recovery who have survived one or more overdoses.
Overdose requires immediate medical treatment. Specific symptoms vary, but there are common overdose indicators.
Since such symptoms may also indicate a heart attack or other non-drug-related illness, a person familiar with the patient should ideally be by to verify whether any drugs were taken, what kinds and how much. The better the medics understand the cause, the better the patient’s chances of surviving an overdose.
When the patient does survive, he or she will be shaken by the experience and will need psychological counseling as well as additional physical treatment. Although some overdoses happen entirely by accident—medication in the wrong bottle, extra doses taken through pure forgetfulness—most are due to one of three causes.
All of these indicate pre-existing anxiety or depression that needs to be dealt with, now combined with emotional effects brought on by the overdose itself.
If these issues are ignored after recovery from an overdose, they are likely to lead to a repeat experience.
Those close to the patient, especially if they personally witnessed the incident, will also be dealing with post-trauma reactions, fear of recurrence, anger at the patient for doing such a thing, and anger at themselves for not somehow preventing the overdose. These people also need counseling (preferably in conjunction with the patient) and a plan to deal with addiction and related issues.
In addition, if the overdose was caused by prescription medication, counseling should include serious consideration of whether to ask the patient’s doctor about discontinuing the prescription. Harvard Medical School reports that patients who continue taking opioid-painkiller prescriptions after an overdose run up to a 17% risk of a second overdose. But if the original prescription was for a legitimate problem, emotional effects will include fear of the old pain returning, so considering alternate relief methods is essential.
Sadly, many drug overdoses are fatal, leaving the patient’s loved ones to cope alone with the above emotional effects—along with additional grief and guilt. “I should have been able to prevent it” is a near-universal reaction to tragedy, even when all logic indicates nothing could have been done. Parents, and anyone else who felt a personal responsibility for a loved one’s death from overdose, are hit especially hard by guilt over “Why couldn’t I save her from herself?”
An additional form of “survivor guilt” often strikes loved ones who themselves have or have had substance-abuse issues—especially those who have succeeded in recovery where the overdose victim didn’t, or who survived an overdose and are wondering “I’m no better a person: why should I have been the one to live?” Even worse, they may have been actively sharing the drugs that caused the fatal overdose, or have been responsible for providing them.
Unfortunately, many people who do survive overdoses go right back to abusing drugs—and wind up suffering another overdose, or several more. Some people become chronic “repeaters,” often needing more intense treatment with each overdose.
Surviving repeat overdoses will produce emotional effects different from those generated by a one-time occurrence. Those close to the patient become increasingly frustrated and annoyed: “Won’t he ever learn?” “She’s just selfish and irresponsible.” “He just doesn’t want to stop.” Meanwhile, the patient (who on the conscious level may very much want to stop) is berating herself for being a “failure” who’ll “never change”—and perpetuating the cycle by burying her sense of hopelessness in a chemical fog.
A serious problem is brewing if multiple overdoses take place in a short period of time. “Repeaters” run special risks from recurring strain on the body and emotions.
A repeat overdoser needs psychological counseling as soon as possible. If he or she refuses help, it’s vital that family and friends seek counseling themselves. After a drug overdose—whatever the circumstances—professional care is always vital to cope with the emotional effects.
Sources
AddictionNetwork.com. “Overcoming Survivor’s Guilt and Shame after a Loved One’s Overdose.” October 1, 2014. Accessed February 28, 2017.
Carson, Daniel. “The lucky ones survive, but many don’t: First responders and addicts describe heroin overdose scenes.” The News-Messenger. Accessed February 28, 2017.
DrugRehab.us. “Repeat Drug Overdoses Raise Risk for Hospitalization, Ventilator Care.” Accessed February 28, 2017.
EMedicineHealth.com. “Drug Overdose Topic Guide.” Accessed February 28, 2017.
Michael’s House. “When You Survive an Overdose.” Accessed February 28, 2017.
National Council on Alcoholism and Drug Dependence, Inc. “Drug Overdose: A Medical Emergency.” Updated April 25, 2015. Accessed February 28, 2017.
Park, Haeyoun, and Matthew Bloch. “How the Epidemic of Drug Overdose Deaths Ripples Across America.” New York Times, January 19, 2016. Accessed February 28, 2017.
Powers, Tim. “Understanding Survivor’s Guilt in Addiction Recovery.” The Fix, September 4, 2015. Accessed February 28, 2017.
Taylor, D M, P A Cameron, and D Eddey. “Recurrent overdose: patient characteristics, habits, and outcomes,” abstract. PubMed, July 1998. Accessed February 28, 2017.
Whether you’re researching for yourself or a loved one, Beach House can help. We understand that this is a serious time in your life and that the treatment center you choose matters. We want you to feel comfortable and empowered to make the right decision for yourself, a friend, or a family member. This is why a counselor is waiting and available to answer your questions and help put your mind at ease regarding the next steps. Many of the staff at Beach House have walked in your shoes. If you feel you’re ready or want more information about how to help a loved one, we can help today. You can also learn why we are voted the #1 rehab for addiction treatment in Florida.
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