Whole Library

The Know shares drug alerts issued from all states and territories in Australia to build public awareness of emerging drugs of concern and support people who use drugs and communities to reduce the risk of harm.

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There’s always an element of risk involved in taking any drug – prescription or illegal. And, different drugs carry different risks.

Not everyone has the same risk of overdose. Different people will have different risks, depending on the type of opioid that they’re taking, how long they’ve been taking it, their height and weight,  and so on

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An opioid overdose causes a person’s breathing to slow to dangerous levels to the point that they can’t breathe properly. This can cause brain damage and, in some cases, death.

Naloxone temporarily reverses the effects of opioid overdose, allowing the person to breathe again while help is on its way.

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Alcohol is a legal depressant that slows down the messages travelling between the brain and the body. In small amounts, alcohol can cause you to feel relaxed, more confident and heighten your emotions. Alcohol depresses the nerves that control involuntary actions such as breathing and the gag reflex (to prevent choking). A fatal dose of alcohol will eventually cause these functions to shut down. Since alcohol is an irritant to the stomach, excessive vomiting is also common. If the person is unconscious, this could lead to death by asphyxiation.

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Methamphetamine (or methylamphetamine hydrochloride) is a central nervous system (CNS) stimulant.

Because of its high purity, meth overdose, or toxicity, can occur even with small doses, especially when mixed with other drugs. The greatest concern in meth overdose is the risk of seizures, stroke and heart attack. Emergency presentations featuring meth toxicity are less common than meth psychosis. However, risks to the cardiovascular system from high levels are significant, especially when there is a pre-existing health problem.

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Benzodiazepines, barbiturates (medical depressants), opioids and alcohol all slow the central nervous system to produce a calming effect.

These substances are often prescribed to relieve pain, help you sleep or in the case of alcohol, used recreationally when socialising. However, when taken in excessive amounts or in combinations with other drugs, depressants can depress normal functions such as breathing and heart rate until they eventually stop, resulting in brain damage or death.

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New Psychoactive Substances (NPS), also known as ‘synthetic drugs’ also known as synthetic cathinones or ‘legal highs’ are chemicals that are made to act in a similar way to drugs like cannabis, ecstasy, cocaine or methamphetamine.

The effects of NPS vary from substance to substance and so may signs of overdose.  Signs of overdoes is partly based on what is known of related drugs (MDMA and amphetamines) as not enough research has been done on individual cathinones

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Opioids is an umbrella term for natural or synthetic drugs that  are derived from – or related to – the opium poppy. Opioids are central nervous system depressants, that dull the senses, induce relaxation and euphoria. They depress (slow down) breathing and the heart rate. In high doses, opioids depress the body’s natural urge to breathe. When someone is having an overdose they can stop breathing and may die. Even if a person does not die from overdose, they can sustain brain damage.

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Stimulants are a category of drug that increase alertness and heart rate, producing an effect of increased confidence, and energy. Large doses of these drugs can result in anxiety, panic, seizures, headaches, stomach cramps, aggression and paranoia.

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August 31st is International Overdose Awareness Day, an annual campaign to end overdose.

This is a day to remember people who have died from overdose, and to acknowledge the grief of families and friends. The campaign also raises awareness about overdose prevention and seeks to end the stigma around overdose.

The theme for 2025 is ‘One big family, driven by hope’ - the overdose crisis doesn’t just shatter our families; it fractures our communities.

Each year, millions of people are prescribed medications, most commonly antidepressants, to help manage these conditions. But many are unaware of the risks of mixing some medications with alcohol or other drugs (AOD).

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