Problems associated with alcohol consumption and drug use

Alcohol or drug intoxication is when one or more bodily functions are impaired, whether the intoxication is:

• Light
• Moderate
• Severe
• Or the person is overdosing

An overdose occurs when the body can no longer tolerate the use of one or more toxic substances. Since drugs can contain other unexpected toxic substances, an overdose can occur quickly. It can be fatal.

Since 2010, the number of deaths related to intoxication with opioids or other drugs has increased in Quebec. The arrival of more powerful drugs, the effects of which are unpredictable, has disrupted drug user communities. For more information about overdoses from drugs such as opioids and ways to prevent them, go to the page Risks of opioid use.

Symptoms of severe intoxication or overdose vary depending on these substances consumed. Here are the main symptoms grouped by category of drug.

For disruptive substances/hallucinogens, such as cannabis, mushrooms, MDMA (ecstasy), ketamine, LSD and PCP (phencyclidine), mescaline:

• Restlessness
• Anxiety
• Confusion
• Panic
• Paranoia
• Hallucinations
• Psychosis
• Mood swings
• Fever
• Seizures (stiff body with jerky and involuntary muscle spasms)
• Coma
• Irregular heartbeat
• Death

For depressants, such as alcohol, benzodiazepines (sedatives or sleeping pills), codeine, GHB, heroine, morphine and fentanyl:

• Loss of inhibitions
• Impaired judgment
• Sensory impairment
• Impaired coordination
• Confusion
• Delirium
• Stupor (a combination of fear and bewilderment)
• Loss of consciousness
• Seizures (stiff body with jerky and involuntary muscle spasms)
• Heart problems
• Coma
• Difficulty breathing
• Slow heart rate
• Death

For stimulants, such as amphetamines, cocaine and methamphetamines:

• Restlessness, hyperactivity
• Trembling
• Fever
• Confusion
• Delirium
• Seizures (stiff body with jerky and involuntary muscle spasms)
• Renal failure
• Paranoia
• Heart problems (heart attack)
• Coma
• Stroke
• Death

Severe intoxication and overdose can lead to undesirable effects with serious consequences. If you are with someone who has been drinking or done drugs and appears to be in bad shape, keep an eye on him or her and check for any of the following signs:

• Little or no response at all
• Loss of consciousness or very deep sleep
• Difficulty breathing
• Weak pulse
• Repeated vomiting
• Heavy sweating
• Cold or clammy skin

If the person shows one of these signs, or if you are concerned about their health or safety, call 911 and stay with him or her until help arrives. A person with one or more of the above signs should never be left alone. The Good Samaritan Drug Overdose Act provides some legal protection for people who respond to an overdose in an emergency.

If you are unsure whether or not someone is seriously intoxicated and you do not fear for their immediate health or safety, call Info‑Santé at 811 or the Centre antipoison du Québec (poison control centre) at 1-800-463‑5060.

Drugs are more dangerous when mixed because their effects can be stronger and more intense. They may also contain other unexpected toxic substances. Taking different drugs at the same time is very risky because the combination of substances can result in unpredictable effects. All mixtures of drugs can lead to serious complications and can even be fatal.

To learn more, read Alcohol and other drugs: a combination to avoid.

A person who has taken drugs can feel different effects, pleasant or not. Sometimes, when an adverse effect persists, the person may experience a state of panic or paranoia. This is referred to as a bad trip. Most drugs can cause this. How long it lasts depends on the person’s characteristics, their environment and the drug or drugs used.

Some people are at risk of experiencing a bad trip with one type of drug over another or depending on their physical and mental state or the context of drug use.

A person in this state should never be left alone.

A ‘blackout’ is a temporary loss of memory or consciousness that can happen during a heavy intoxication of alcohol or certain hallucinogens.

A person who has had a blackout generally experiences a change in mood or short-term memory loss – forgetting what happened the previous day, for instance

Dependence can develop quickly or gradually, depending on the substance used. It sets in when you can no longer do without a substance without feeling physical or psychological discomfort. Little by little, life revolves almost entirely around getting and using the substance.

Psychological dependence is an emotional and mental state where a person feels an intense and persistent need to use alcohol or another drug to:

• Feel better
• Relax
• Calm down, manage stress
• Be stimulated
• Gain courage to face problems, etc.

Physical dependency is a state where the body gets used to a substance and can no longer function normally without it. It develops because the body adapts to the regular presence of the product and wants more. When the substance is stopped or reduced abruptly, physical symptoms of withdrawal appear. These symptoms are collectively known as “withdrawal symptoms”.

People who regularly drink alcohol or use drugs in huge amounts can experience withdrawal symptoms when they stop or reduce their consumption.

Symptoms vary depending on the category of substance consumed.

For disruptive substances/hallucinogens, such as cannabis, mushrooms, MDMA (ecstasy), ketamine, LSD and PCP (phencyclidine), mescaline:

• Irritability
• Possibility of symptoms of depression and anxiety
• An obsessive craving for the substance
• Anxiety
• Nightmares
• Nausea
• Headaches
• Trembling
• Hypertension
• Heart problems

For depressants, such as alcohol, benzodiazepines (sedatives or sleeping pills), codeine, GHB, heroine, morphine and fentanyl:

• Anxiety, panic attacks, irritability
• Restlessness
• Delirium
• Insomnia
• Excessive sweating
• Trembling
• Seizures (stiff body with jerky and involuntary muscle spasms)
• Nausea, vomiting
• Confusion
• Hallucinations
• Spasms
• Goosebumps, shivers
• Diarrhea, cramps, abdominal pain
• Delirium tremens (hallucinations combined with significant disorientation and confusion)

For stimulants, such as amphetamines, cocaine and methamphetamines:

• Fatigue, weakness
• Difficulty concentrating
• Anxiety, irritability
• Insomnia
• Increased appetite
• Headaches
• Nausea
• Depression, suicidal thoughts
• An obsessive craving for the substance

A person living with dependence and who wants to cut down or stop using should follow a health professional’s recommendations in order to reduce the withdrawal symptoms. It can be dangerous to suddenly stop using certain substances once the body is accustomed to them. For example, withdrawal from alcohol, GHB or benzodiazepines can carry health risks and even be fatal. Treatment under medical supervision is recommended. For professional help, contact Info-Social (811, option 2) or consult a doctor.