Asian Journal of Medical Principles and Clinical Practice

The Prevalence of Opioid Overdose in Young VS. Old Patients: A Literature Review

Fouad Mahmoud Alrahal *

NMC Royal Hospital, Mohammed Bin Zayed City, United Arab Emirates.

*Author to whom correspondence should be addressed.

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Abstract

Opioids are a class of drugs that include prescription painkillers like oxycodone, hydrocodone, and morphine, as well as illicit drugs such as heroin. Opioids act on the central nervous system, particularly the respiratory centers in the brain. An overdose can cause slow and shallow breathing, which can lead to a lack of oxygen in the body. Common signs of opioid overdose include pinpoint pupils, confusion, unconsciousness, and difficulty breathing. The skin may become pale or clammy, and the person's lips or fingertips may turn blue or gray. Individuals with a history of opioid use disorder, those taking high doses of prescription opioids, or those using opioids in combination with other substances are at an increased risk of overdose. Opioid overdose is a serious and potentially life-threatening medical emergency that occurs when an individual consumes a toxic amount of opioids, leading to respiratory depression, unconsciousness, and if left untreated, death. Opioid overdose is a significant public health concern, and efforts are ongoing to address both the immediate crisis of overdose and the broader issues of opioid misuse and addiction. Public awareness, education, and access to life-saving interventions like naloxone play critical roles in reducing the impact of opioid overdose on individuals and communities. This study highlights the importance of public health initiatives aimed at mitigating the impact of opioid overdose. Increased awareness, access to naloxone, and comprehensive treatment options for opioid use disorder are fundamental components of a holistic response to this pressing public health crisis. By developing a deeper understanding of opioid overdose and its implications, stakeholders can work collaboratively to implement effective strategies that save lives and address the root causes of opioid-related harm. It also lays a firm background on the misuse of opioids that leads to such problems in the future, thereby warning the physicians and medical personnel regarding an up-and-coming problem that would change the world, but mostly for the worse.

Keywords: Opioids, opioid overdose, misuse of drugs, naloxone, opioid toxicity

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