Guidance

Alcohol, medications, illegal drugs and some herbal remedies can cause harm if you take too much. This is called overdose.

The risk of overdose increases when you take more than one of these substances at a time, or if your body is not used to taking a substance.

Symptoms

Signs and symptoms vary depending on what was taken but may include:

– Nausea and vomiting

– Severe stomach pain and abdominal cramps

– Diarrhea

– Chest pain

– Dizziness

– Loss of balance

– Loss of co-ordination

– Being unresponsive, but awake

Treatment

Stay calm

Call emergency services.

Follow the Basic Life Support Action Plan DRSABCD.

Check breathing and monitor their condition until help arrives.

Do not try to make the person vomit.

Do not give them anything to eat or drink.

Keep any pill containers to take to the hospital.