Overdose and Brain Injury Little known fact: In an overdose situation, if your brain has been deprived of oxygen for 3 minutes or more, there is a chance you have sustained a brain injury – which will affect your recovery plan going forward. The more overdoses you experience, the more likely you are to sustain a brain injury. This type of brain injury is often referred to as an anoxic brain injury. Did you know that an opioid overdose occurs when too much of an opioid enters the brain and depresses the central nervous system from the front of the brain all the way back to the brain stem? The brain stem is important because it tells the body to do things without us even thinking about it. Things like digesting food, growing fingernails, and breathing. To put it simply, an opioid overdose is the body losing the urge to breathe. Did you know people who sustain a brain injury during an overdose will likely need a different treatment plan in recovery because their cognitive functions have changed and they are no longer able to respond the same way they did before the brain injury? That means one outcome of the opioid crisis is that we are seeing a significant increase in brain injuries among people who overdose – a “silent epidemic.” The level of brain injury can range from minor to severe. It is important for everyone to know if their brain is functioning properly. The Brain Injury Association of New Hampshire is a resource for help with diagnosing the level of brain injury and helping people living with brain injury reach their full potential. Here are some symptoms that are red flags or signs of a brain injury: How would someone know if they have incurred an anoxic brain injury from surviving an overdose?
---Memory and cognition issues ---Difficulty concentrating, learning and retaining information ---Increased depression, anxiety, and mood swings ---Feeling overly tired and lacking motivation ---Persistent physical changes including headaches, visual and/or motor changes
Overdose and Brain Injury Do you think that you or someone you know may be living with an anoxic brain injury from surviving an overdose? You are not alone and you can ďŹ nd help! If you suspect you may have sustained a brain injury, talk with your primary care provider (or another provider you trust) about what you are experiencing and get the appropriate referral. These referrals can include referrals to a neurologist and/or a neuropsychologist for a neuropsychological evaluation. Contact the Brain Injury Association of New Hampshire (603) 225-8400 or Family Helpline - (800)-773-8400 Referral for treatment may include behavioral therapy, medication, cognitive and physical rehabilitation, nutrition, and lifestyle changes to help enhance quality of life and manage symptoms for people who have survived an overdose living with a brain injury.
What can a person who uses opioids do to protect themselves from brain injury?
Carry naloxone and never use opioids alone. Stagger use with a friend, never share works, know the signs of an overdose, and know how to use your naloxone. Learn rescue breathing. Carry a rescue breathing mask and know the importance of oxygen during an overdose. Every second matters.
Make sure someone who has survived an overdose is seen by medical professionals as soon as possible. Access free naloxone at your local Recovery Center, at your local Doorway, or through the mail. www.nhrecoveryhub.org/naloxone-narcan-in-nh www.thedoorway.nh.gov/avoid-overdose www.naloxoneforall.org/newhampshire BIANH - 52 Pleasant Street - Concord, NH 03301 (603) 225-8400 - Family Helpline - (800) 773-8400