Overdose or toxic effects of illicit drug use
Recognising and treating toxicity from opioids including nitazenes, methamphetamine, cocaine, MDMA, GHB, synthetic cannabinoids, ketamine and inhalants, with the complications that bring these patients under medicine.
Tier 1Condition
Written with AI assistance and fact-checked against the sources below. For exam study, not clinical decisions. How notes are made
At a glance
- Most patients with illicit drug toxicity need supportive care: airway, breathing, glucose, temperature and agitation control. Few drugs have antidotes.
- Opioids cause most drug-induced deaths in Australia. Naloxone is titrated to breathing.
- Stimulants kill through hyperthermia, arrhythmia, stroke, aortic dissection and ACS. Benzodiazepines come first.
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Sources
- Therapeutic Guidelines: Toxicology and Toxinology (December 2024 update: opioid poisoning and naloxone, ethanol, chronic nitrous oxide poisoning)AU/NZTherapeutic Guidelines Limited, 2024
- Poisons Information Centre (13 11 26)AU/NZNSW Poisons Information Centre, Sydney Children's Hospitals Network, 2026
- Take Home Naloxone programAU/NZAustralian Government Department of Health, Disability and Ageing, 2022
- Dunkley EJ et al. The Hunter Serotonin Toxicity Criteria: simple and accurate diagnostic decision rules for serotonin toxicity. QJM 2003;96:635-42QJM, 2003
- Isbister GK et al. Randomized controlled trial of intramuscular droperidol versus midazolam for violence and acute behavioral disturbance: the DORM study. Ann Emerg Med 2010;56:392-401Annals of Emergency Medicine, 2010
- Carlisle EJ et al. Glue-sniffing and distal renal tubular acidosis: sticking to the facts. J Am Soc Nephrol 1991;1(8):1019-27Journal of the American Society of Nephrology, 1991
- Australia's Annual Overdose Report 2026AU/NZPenington Institute, 2026
- Last updated
- 14 November 2026
What changed
- 14 November 2026 Personal emails, About story and Australian-style copy