Heroin Overdose Symptoms: What to know

The Detox Center Coronavirus Policy Update

As we closely monitor the ongoing Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) outbreak, we are taking every precaution to ensure our top priority remains the health, safety, and well-being of our clients and staff. This guides each and every decision we make.

We have and will continue to follow the guidelines of our local health departments, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC} the World Health Organization (WHO) and the Broward and Palm Beach County Health Departments. As a result, we stay current on this evolving situation, we want to assure you that we are taking the appropriate and precautionary measures, such as:

• Ensuring proper and rigorous cleaning and sanitation of common surfaces

• Requiring hourly sanitization of all staff and clients

• Provision of additional sanitizing products to our clients and staff

• Ongoing staff training to enhance cleaning and disinfecting procedures to maintain a healthy environment

• All employees are required to remain home in the event:

o They display any signs or symptoms of being ill. Employees who report to work ill will be sent home in accordance with these health guidelines.
oIf the employee has traveled outside of the state of Florida by any means or if an employee has traveled via cruise or airplane to any destination, that employee must report to management and Human Resources and self-isolate at that time.

Regarding current and admitted patient's change of schedule, the following has been implemented:

• Some programs and therapies have been temporarily postponed due to COVID-19

• Grocery shopping will be completed by the facility staff

• Clients are urged to keep a safe distance from other persons

• Hourly mandatory hand washing breaks are in effect

• Clients have been instructed to report to medical staff any symptoms

• Additional Health screenings will be conducted at that time of admission

• Clients will not be admitted to the facility if any of the following symptoms are present:

o Fever above 100 degrees
o Consistent Dry Coughing
o Shortness of Breath
o Severer body aches, that surpass PAWS range and/or
o Sore Throat

If a client does contract coronavirus, they will be isolated and quarantined on location. The client will only be handled by designated staff with the proper PPE. The local Department of Health (or equivalent agency) will be informed so that they may come out and provide further guidance on how to best handle the individual. All suspected cases are reported to the Department of Health (or local agency) who will be handling it accordingly. A deep cleaning will occur at the identified location.

Additional information regarding the virus can be found on the Broward Health Department's website or the Centers for Disease Control website.

We will continue to work together to ensure the safety of our patients and team members and adhere to any new regulatory changes as they come.

Heroin overdose is a dangerous and potentially fatal complication arising from the use of heroin. So if you or someone you know is having problems due to the use of heroin, it is important that you learn the basic heroin overdose symptoms and seek help from a drug detox center program for this potentially fatal drug.

Things to Know about a Heroin Overdose

Heroin is a highly addictive drug. It is common that people relying on prescription painkillers such as hydrocodone or oxycodone may turn to heroin once their ability to afford these medications is compromised.

A heroin overdose can occur in as little as 10 minutes or in as much as 3 hours after its use. It is important to be alert of the possibility of a heroin overdose for anyone using this drug.

How Can You Help

When users take a higher dose of heroin than their body can handle in order to function normally, the result is a heroin overdose. The majority of overdose cases happened by accident. But someone can also overdose when they use a substance for the first time. The bottom line is that whenever the body is subject to more heroin than it can handle, a drug overdose results.

Another risk factor for a heroin overdose is whether the user has a mental health condition, such as depression. People with a mental health condition have a greater likelihood of combining heroin use with the use of alcohol or other drugs. This compounds the stresses that these substances put on the body, and increases the chances that the body will experience an overdose. If you are struggling with addiction or mental health, seek help from The Detox Center or a similar residential reatment program.

What Are Heroin Overdose Symptoms?

When a person uses heroin, there are visible signs of a possible overdose. These signs include:

Abnormal breathing- Shallow breathing and gasping for air are signs that their respiratory function is malfunctioning. Their breathing may become slow and erratic, which is a sign to seek medical help immediately.
Irregular Pulse- Even if the person is conscious, their heart may be experiencing difficulty. One of these signs includes a change in pulse. A slow and erratic pulse is a sign that someone is experiencing an overdose.
Skin color changes- Blood circulation decreases during an overdose. Due to this, the skin may turn blue and pale.
Nausea or Vomiting- It is common for someone experiencing an overdose on heroin to experience nausea or vomiting.
Loss of Consciousness- Taking a large amount of heroin can cause the person to pass out. It also causes cognitive functions to shut down and can cause the person to experience problems in breathing.
Changes in Muscle Responses- A sign of a heroin overdose is the drug user to experience a feeling of “pins and needles” on their skin.

In addition to these common signs, other symptoms of a heroin overdose can include:

Discolored tongue
Low blood pressure
Spasms or seizures
Coma
Drowsiness
Constipation
Disorientation

Take Action at The Detox Center Today

The Detox Center features a team of medical professionals that are dedicated to your recovery from addiction. We provide a wide range of essential addiction therapy programs that include drug detox services, alternatives treatments, and residential addiction treatment.

If you witness a family member or a person who has potentially overdosed, call 911 immediately. Keep them awake, and be watchful of any signs that the person is exhibiting.

It is important to seek out professional medical assistance if you or a loved one is battling heroin addiction. The Detox Center can help you learn the heroin overdose symptoms and provide assistance to you or your loved ones. So contact us online or call The Detox Center at [Direct] today!