Skip to main content
Welcome to Retreat of Atlanta
Follow us:

How Long Does it Take to Recover From an Overdose?

Drug usage in the United States has gone up dramatically in the last decade. Opioid overdose deaths rose from 21,089 in 2010 to 80,411 in 2021. Usually, these overdoses are accidental. An overdose occurs when too much of a substance has been taken into the body. As a result, the body’s systems become affected. This can often have fatal consequences. However, this is not always the case. 

Thankfully, there are ways to recover from an overdose. Recovering from an overdose is possible with professional help. How long does it take to recover from an overdose? Recovery time will vary from person to person. It is important to note that people recovering from an overdose should seek addiction treatment. An addiction treatment program will help prevent future overdoses. 

What is An Overdose? 

An overdose is when too many drugs, alcohol, or another substance have been ingested into the body. As a result, brain and body functions are severely affected. A drug

overdose is considered a medical emergency. This is because a drug overdose can lead to death.  the body goes into what is called toxic shock. When this happens it may not be easy to recognize that a person is overdosing. Sometimes when someone is having a drug overdose it can look like that person is heavily intoxicated. 

What Causes an Overdose? 

There are a few factors that can cause an overdose. Unfortunately,  one of these factors involves an intentional overdose. An intentional overdose is when an individual purposefully takes too much of a drug or substance. Another Factor is unintentional overdoses. Unintentional overdoses can occur when a person is under the influence of alcohol or drugs and is not aware of how much of the substance they are ingesting.  This is an easy way to accidentally take too much of a drug. 

Experimenting with new drugs and combining different drugs can cause overdoses as well. This combination can be dangerous because the person may not know how strong the drugs are. Moreover, using drugs after a long period of not using drugs can also cause an overdose. After a long period of not using,  an individual’s tolerance decreases.  In other words, the body can’t handle as much of the drug as it could before the period of abstinence. 

Who is At Risk for an Overdose?

Much like what causes an overdose, there are different factors that contribute to people who are at risk for an overdose. Individuals who are heavy users can be at risk for an overdose. It can be hard for a person to recognize when an overdose is happening.  and overdose can present as just being heavily intoxicated. 

Further,  people who deal with mental illnesses like depression and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD)  are at risk of having an overdose. These individuals may use substances as an escape from their mental and emotional pain. In seeking relief from this pain they may accidentally take too much of a substance. 

What Are the Symptoms of an Overdose?

Symptoms of an overdose can vary depending on the substance that a person has overdosed on. Typically, overdose symptoms affect mental and physical functions.

There are a few common signs of an overdose. These signs include the following:

  • A person may not recognize where they are or people that they know
  •  Slurred speech
  • Talking to oneself
  • Losing Consciousness and being unresponsive to loud noises and attempting to be woken up
  • Hallucinations
  • Uncharacteristic aggression
  • Psychosis
  • Not being aware of things happening in  immediate surroundings 

In some cases, these effects can wear off and the individual can return to a more normal physical and mental state. If this does not happen,  emergency medical treatment from paramedics in the hospital will be needed. 

How Long Does it Take to Recover From an Overdose?

 The time it takes to recover from an overdose varies from person to person. A medical professional or Rehabilitation Center can help a person recover after an overdose.  Addiction treatment is extremely beneficial for those who have overdosed on drugs or alcohol. If an overdose goes untreated,  it can turn into an addiction over time. Drug addictions have long-term harmful side effects.

Seeking addiction treatment can help to prevent future fatal overdoses.  In addition, addiction treatment also helps people achieve and maintain sobriety. Addiction treatment can also protect an individual from Criminal penalties. Georgia laws protect those seeking treatment. In other words, if a person seeks treatment they will not be charged with drug possession. 

Are There Treatment Options for Recovering From an Overdose? 

As aforementioned, addiction treatment is a great option to recover from a drug or alcohol overdose. Addiction treatment usually involves a drug detox and therapy.  In addition addiction treatment also includes Aftercare services.  This is where people can get ongoing support after their treatment program is concluded. 

Treatment also looks to address what caused the person to overdose in the first place. This is often done with cognitive behavioral therapy and other types of therapy. Moreover, FDA-approved medications such as Methadone Naltrexone, and Buprenorphine can be effective treatment options. Naltrexone can almost immediately undo the effects of opioids. 

 Methadone and Buprenorphine are used as treatment medications and help with problematic substance abuse. These medications are usually used to help people slowly transition from opioid drug use.

Overdose Recovery Treatment Near You 

A drug overdose can be an extremely scary event. However, recovering from an overdose is possible. An overdose can be a chance for a person to look at their habits. This will help them understand how they got to this point. 

A drug or alcohol overdose can reveal that things may have gotten a bit out of hand.  Thankfully, Treatment options are available. The Retreat of Atlanta offers comprehensive addiction treatment programs to help people recover from overdoses and substance abuse. 

We offer an inpatient drug rehab center.  In addition, we also have a trained medical team and offer treatment therapies that include counseling and medically assisted programs.  If you or a loved one are recovering from an overdose contact us today to start your treatment Journey. 

Begin Your Treatment Today

Take The First Step Towards Your Journey To Recovery