From 2010 to 2016, heroin overdose death rates have increased by over five folds. Heroin has become a huge killer in America. Many addicts have moved onto heroin after getting hooked on prescription opioids.

A large dose of heroin can result in both cardiac and respiratory depression and failure. The overdose victim will often look like they're merely falling asleep. However, they'll stop breathing. The user will not be able to survive without medical help.

In the event that a person is overdosing on heroin, take the following steps:

• Call 9-1-1 immediately for help
• Place the overdose victim in the recovery position, so they don't end up choking on their own vomit
• Administer naloxone to reverse the effects of an opioid overdose
• Administer CPR if the overdose victim stops breathing

Stay with the overdose victim until help arrives. Try to keep them as comfortable as possible. If they're conscious, they'll be able to give you an idea of what they need to stay comfortable.

In 2017, over 14,556 Americans overdosed on cocaine. Cocaine overdose victims may experience:

• Respiratory failure
• Kidney failure
• Heart failure
• Abnormal body temperatures

Unlike with opiate and opioid overdoses, there are no antidotes for a cocaine overdose. Those who overdose need immediate medical attention or they can experience immense and irreversible organ damage. They may even experience seizures.

In the event of a cocaine overdose, do the following:

• Call 9-1-1 immediately for help
• Perform CPR and other cardiac interventions if the overdose victim experiences a respiratory failure or depression
• Consider using physical restraints if the overdose victim gets dangerously agitated
• Closely monitor the individual until medical help arrives

With a cocaine overdose, a lot of the symptoms experienced during a recovery is psychological. An overdose victim will need addiction treatment to recover. They're going to experience intense cravings and other issues.

As mentioned, most post-overdose problems are psychological. AN overdose victim's brain chemistry levels are abnormal. The fluctuating levels make an overdose victim prone to depression, suicidal thinking and even paranoia.

A lot of therapy and counseling is needed to help an overdose victim get back to normal. Most drug treatment centers recommend group, family and individual therapy. They also recommend behavioral therapies, like Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) and Dialectical Behavioral Therapy (DBT).

Many Americans are getting hooked on prescription drugs. Unfortunately, they're also overdosing on them too. Many prescription medications are just as addictive as illicit drugs.

Fortunately, there's an antidote for opiates and opioids. For prescription opioids, naloxone can be used to reverse an overdose. For anti-anxiety medications, barbiturates and benzodiazepines, there are no antidotes.

If someone has overdosed on a prescription drug, it's vital that those around him or her stay calm. Panicking will only worsen the situation. Those who are trying to help an overdose victim should do the following:

• Call 9-1-1 for immediate medical help
• If the overdose victim is unconscious, place him or her on his or her side in the recovery position
• Monitor the victim's physical condition and breathing
• Administer CPR whenever necessary

It's important that no one tries to make the overdose victim vomit. Vomiting can be dangerous. If an unconscious person vomits, he or she may choke on his or her vomit and die. The overdose victim should not be given anything to drink or eat either.

Upon calling 9-1-1, provide the emergency responders with information like the type of prescription drugs that were taken. Provide them with the containers for the prescription drugs when they arrive. If not, bring the containers to the hospital.

Naloxone is a lifesaver when a person is overdosing on any type of opioid. Naloxone is an opioid-reversing prescription medication that can be administered as a nasal spray or as an injection.

This medication will attach to opioid receptors in the central nervous system (CNS). This blocks heroin and other opiates and opioids from wreaking havoc onto the person's system.

Once administered, the effects should kick in within minutes. If effects are not seen within 5 to 30 minutes, the overdose victim may need another dose.

Naloxone usually only lasts between 30 and 90 minutes. The effects of other opioids can last much longer. As a result, it's possible for the naloxone to wear off. When this happens, another overdose may occur.

This is why it's important to administer another dose of naloxone if it is necessary. It's important to note that naloxone can cause feelings of withdrawals. This is completely normal.

It's possible to obtain naloxone from Bridle Trails pharmacies. There are also many organizations that will hand out these prescription medications. If you or someone you know abuses opioids and opiates, it's a good idea to have naloxone on hand.

Nasal spray naloxone is perhaps the easiest to work with. The person administering the drug does not need any medical knowledge at all. Each spray has enough dose for one treatment. To administer nasal spray naloxone, do the following:

• Perform several rescue breaths if the person is not breathing
• Affix the nasal atomizer to the needleless syringe and put the glass cartridge of naloxone into the right place
• Tilt the overdose victim's head back and spray half of the naloxone, which is 1cc, up one side of the nose, and the other half up the other side of the nose
• Continue to perform rescue breaths until the naloxone takes effect

If the overdose victim does not get better within 3 to 5 minutes, administer another dose of naloxone. If that still doesn't work, something else may be at play. For example, the overdose victim may have no opioids in his or her system or the opioids are unusually strong and potent.

Naloxone injections are a bit more difficult to work with. They come in different forms and in different doses. Some vials contain a multi dose of 10mL. Other vials come with a single dose of 1mL.

Before injecting naloxone into the overdose victim, make sure that it has yet to pass its expiration date. To inject naloxone:

• Use a long needle that's about 1 to 1.5 inches long
• Remove the orange top vial
• Draw 1cc of naloxone into syringe
• Inject the naloxone into a muscle, such as the thighs, shoulders or upper and outer quadrant of the buttocks

Continue to perform rescue breaths for 2 to 3 minutes after the injection. If there is no change after that point, administer another dose.