Opium overdose is just as dangerous as any other type of opioid overdose. A person can encounter severe respiratory depression, coma, brain damage, and even death as a result. Therefore, treatment for opium overdose is the same as the treatment of other types of high-level intoxications resulting from opioid drug abuse.
Treatment At Home
Opium overdose is serious. Any individual who seems to be experiencing it should be taken to the hospital right away. According to the National Library of Medicine, symptoms of this issue can include:
- Confusion
- Sleepiness or loss of alertness
- Unconsciousness
- Breathing problems, including incredibly slowed, shallow, or no breathing
- Nausea
- Pinpoint pupils (extremely small pupils that are the size of the head of a pin)
If you notice these side effects in someone who has recently smoked, injected, or ingested a large amount of opium, it is important to call 911 right away. Make sure that the person keeps breathing, but never induce vomiting unless you are specifically told to by the 911 operator. The individual must be taken to the hospital immediately for further treatment.
Hospital-based Overdose Treatment for Opium
After the overdose is treated, the patient must be monitored for up to 6 hours.
According to the World Health Organization, “Death following opioid overdose is preventable if the person receives basic life support and the timely administration of the opioid antagonist naloxone.” Naloxone works as an antidote to opium and other opioids, and it severs the effects of the drugs from the body. Normally, when naloxone is administered, it is painful (as opioids are analgesics, and the drug will remove the pain-relieving effects from the body immediately), but it is much safer than allowing the individual to continue feeling the effects of the opium in their system. Sometimes, more than one dosage of naloxone may need to be administered.
If you know someone who abuses opium and may be likely to experience an overdose, it can be beneficial to get your own supply of naloxone in case they do. This can allow them to receive the medication they need much faster, which minimizes the chance of deadly respiratory depression and brain damage. Having your own naloxone injection device could save the individual’s life.
In addition, the individual’s breathing must also be supported, which is done in the hospital. The patient may even require orotracheal intubation in order to breathe properly. They may also receive intravenous fluids and other medications if necessary. Doctors will need to monitor the patient for at least 4 to 6 hours in order to ensure they are stable after their overdose.
Post-overdose Treatment for Opium
Opium is an addictive drug, just like all other opioids. Therefore, when someone comes into a hospital having overdosed on it, it is important that the individual be given their treatment options for addiction. After they are stable and can transition into the next stage of recovery, they will usually need to begin addiction treatment in one capacity or another.
Do I Need Opium Addiction Treatment?
If you or someone you know needs treatment for opium abuse or addiction, call 877-743-0081 (Who Answers?). We can help you find a rehab center where you can begin your recovery. However, if you believe someone has overdosed on opium or another type of opioid drug, it is imperative that you call 911 right away.
10 Amazingly Effective Eastern Medicine Treatments for Opiate Addiction -
According to the National Library of Medicine, scientists are currently studying eastern treatments for opiate addiction. The philosophy of many of the eastern treatment programs is not to treat just the addiction but the whole body. Many of these treatments are used in combination with each other. They believe in treating the mind, body, and ... 
Will Opium Addicts Relapse After Treatment? -
According to Harvard Medical School, “Addiction is a chronic disease with no lasting inexpensive cure. Recovery, when it occurs, is precarious, and relapse is a constant danger.” This does not necessarily mean that an individual will definitely relapse after opium addiction treatment, but they will likely experience issues that will trigger them to relapse or ... 
Top 5 Common Opium Addiction Symptoms -
According to the DEA, “The opium poppy is the key source for many narcotics, including morphine, codeine, and heroin.” Some drugs, like opium, are natural and come straight from the plant while others are synthesized either from opium itself or act like opiate drugs. But opium is still an extremely addictive, dangerous substance that causes ... 
Synthetic Opiates List – Drugs that Derive from Opium -
Most prescription pain relief medications exist as synthesized versions of natural opiate drugs like opium, morphine and heroin. These medications make up the majority of drugs appearing on a synthetic opiates list. Opiates, also known as analgesics, have become one of the most commonly abused drugs on the market. With long-term use, their debilitating effects ... 
How Does Opium Addiction Treatment Help Me Stay Drug-Free? -
While most any form of addiction can be difficult to overcome, opiate addictions in particular exert a tremendous hold over a person’s will, thoughts and behaviors. People entering recovering often struggle with the aftereffects of opiates long after they stop using drugs. Without the needed supports in place, it can be especially difficult to stay ...