For International Overdose Awareness Day, Leo, Outreach Team Leader at Wirral Ways and member of the non-fatal overdose panel, busts three common myths about overdose.
Myth 1: You only overdose if you inject drugs
Overdose can happen through many different routes, not just injecting. Smoking and ingestion can cause overdose too. The method doesn’t make you safe.
Myth 2: “I’m an experienced drug user, I know what I’m doing”
Nobody is immune to overdose. Tolerance can change over time, and we see many cases of people overdosing on substances they’ve used for years, only to find they now contain different, much stronger ingredients than before.
Myth 3: “They’re prescribed by my doctor, so they’re safe”
Prescribed drugs are still drugs, and they’re still dangerous. Mixing them with alcohol or other substances can cause overdose, and so can taking more than your prescribed dose. Always check with your doctor if you’re unsure.
Overdose can happen to anybody. Knowing the risks helps you manage them, and where opiates are involved, naloxone saves lives.
Find out more: www.wirralways.org.uk | wirral.services@cgl.org.uk | 0151 556 1335