Heroin Overdose: Methadone & Heroin Facts

Posted by: Hayes' dad on 2009-05-12, 15:21:31

NO BS here. I am a recovering addict (18 months clean) who has OD'd 3 times (twice by injection and once by snorting) and had to be revived each time and have 2 great friends who have died of the disease of addiction by way of heroin OD's. Shooting into a vein (IV injection) is the quickest way to feel results hence have the drug effect you by entering your system. The drug immediatly enters your bloodstream to the heart and gets pumped throughout the body. Snorting/ smoking/ or shooting into a muscle (IM injection) each enter the system slower than IV injection but the results can be just as deadly. My first OD with IV injection was quick as I "passed out " right away and the paramedic actually pulled the needle out of my arm. My second IV injection was probably under 5 minutes until I 'passed out ". The time I OD'd from snorting probably took 15-30 minutes or so before I went under because I remember walking around and making a phone call and stuff. Opiates effect the cardiovascular system and your lungs are the first thing to stop working which means most people who die from an OD do so because they stop breathing. The heart rate will decrease and other organs will stop working but of those 3 times my heart only stopped pumping 1 time to the point I needed to be shocked and that was after I already wasn't breathing. (I assume it was after because I don't really remember.) The most important thing is to call 911 IMMEDIATLY. Tell the dispatcher that you think it could be an opiate OD (you don't have to say heroin because the treatment is the same for heroin as it is for vicodin or oxycontin, etc.) That way the ambulance will be sure to bring along Narcon/ Nalaxone. The drug will get injected into the patient or possibly forced up their nostrils by squeezing a liquid up the nasal passage. it takes the opiates out of the patient's system immedialy. Much like on Pulp Fiction when they do it to the girl but it doesn't have to be shot right into the heart like the movie. If the user has a habit and serious addiction to the point where they get sick when they don't have opiates in their system, the administration of the Narcon/ Nalaxone will cause the patient to go into immediate withdraw which will be like living through hell on earth. Vomiting/ urinating/ defacating on self, intense physical pain, uncontrollable shaking, sweating, hot and cold flashes, etc but it sure as hell beats dying. The Narcon/ Nalaxone really does work that quick and that good and it has saved my life 3 times. They have probably stopped breathing and you may want to administer CPR if you know it until the ambulance gets there. I have heard of people who live in the country keeping a syringe full of suboxone on hand. Suboxone contains that naloxone which is given but it also contains Bupronorphine which is kind of an opiate and could cause an OD on someone who isn't a serious addict. Like I said I wouldn't recommend it to someone or think it was a good idea it was a last ditch chance and the patient and person giving them the Suboxone shot knew exactly what they were dealing and willing to take the chance Like I said call an ambulance right away and tell them what you think the user OD'd on. They will probably send out a police cruiser when you tell them that but saving someone's life is worth the hassle of the police. Good luck. Opiate addiction is the most terrible thing in the world that I wouldn't wish upon my worst enemy.

Heroin Overdose: Methadone & Heroin Facts

heroin overdose - Important information about methadone and heroin. Methadone is used to treat addiction to heroin and other drugs.