Hollywood and the rest of the world gasped this past week at the shocking news that Philip Seymour Hoffman died from what appears to be an accidental heroin overdose. Those close to him revealed soon after that the actor had been waging a long term battle with addiction and drug abuse and had recently faltered and fallen off a decades long sobriety wagon.
Though very publicized, the manner of death at which we lost Hoffman isn’t something new and it isn’t as uncommon as you may think. In fact, all over the world millions of people snort, inject or smoke the drug. In fact, around the world, men and women over the age of 35 have seen their heroin overdose rates grow by double-digits in each of the past two years!
One great way to help prevent tragedies like these from occurring is to educate ourselves about them so let’s get down to some Heroin 101.
How Does Heroin Work:
- Heroin works on the central nervous system. It is a narcotic, and opiate like Fentanyl, Morphine, Dilaudid, Vicodin, and Percocet. It impacts all the body’s systems by acting as a depressant meaning it slows down the heart, decreases the ability to breath, and can easily lead to loss of consciousness. Any of these effects can be fatal if the dose is too high or if it’s laced with something else, as many believe Hoffman’s hit was.
- Depending on purity and the user, a lethal dose of heroin may range from 200mg to 500mg, but hardened addicts have survived doses of 1800mg and over. Again this could be where Philip Seymour Hoffman ran into an issue: as a former user he may have thought he could go back to his old dosage, but after years away from the drug, his tolerance could have changed, and a lower dosage could have proved lethal!
- That said, as with all street drugs, there is no “safe dosage.” It depends on tolerance, amount and purity taken, and there are no hard and fast ways to check those when you’re taking a hit or buying it off a dealer.
Symptoms of a Heroin Overdose:
If you suspect someone you know may have been taking heroin here are some signs to watch out for:
- Slow Shallow Breathing
- Muscle Spasms
- Pinpoint Pupils
- Bluish Fingernails
- Cold, Clammy and Pale Looking Skin
- Weak Slow Pulse
- Drowsiness or Change in Mental Status
- Difficulty Awakening the Person
What to Do if You Suspect Someone is Overdosing
- Keep Calm – You will only be able to help them if you remain calm and collected.
- Call 911 – Get help or get them to an emergency room immediately.
- Look around and see if you can assess what types of drugs they took and how much they consumed. Look for bottles, pills, or other drug paraphernalia
- While you’re waiting keep the person calm (if they are conscious) and keep the area around them clear so they don’t accidentally injure themselves and so the medical team can easily access them.
If you are able to save someone after they come around remember that helping them get to rehab and creating a long term recovery plan is also something that those around them can help make happen!
We often like to think that drug users and abusers are hiding in the dark shadows in the street but many are people in the public eye or “regular” people like you and me. Be aware of the signs and symptoms of drug use and don’t be afraid to speak up! It’s better to confront a friend about bad habits now than wait for the unavoidable and scary after effects!
Wishing you good health.
Dr. V