Health Report

by Phinn Borg

(The Gender Centre advise that this article may not be current and as such certain content, including but not limited to persons, contact details and dates may not apply. Where legal authority or medical related matters are cited, responsibility lies with the reader to obtain the most current relevant legal authority and/or medical publication.)

Top Nine Overdose Situations

• Mixing heroin with alcohol, Methadone or Pills;
• Hanging out;
• Missed methadone dose;
• Pay Day;
• Just left detox or jail;
• Using along (more likely to be fatal);
• Stressed out;
• Scored off a new dealer; and
• On a binge.

What do I do?

• Call an Ambulance 000 (Australia Only);
• Turn the person gently onto their side;
• Look into their mouth and remove any visible obstructions (food or vomit) with your fingers;
• Tilt their head slightly backward and downward;
• Check to see if they are breathing;
• Look for movement of the chest and listen and feel for escape of air from the nose and mouth; and
• Stay with the person until the ambulance arrives.

The line between the desired effects of heroin and life threatening overdose is a fine one.

So all, please be careful!

Polare is published in Australia by The Gender Centre Inc. which is funded by the Department of Community Services under the S.A.A.P. Program and supported by the N.S.W. Health Department through the AIDS and Infectious Diseases Branch. Polare provides a forum for discussion and debate on gender issues. Advertisers are advised that all advertising is their responsibility under the Trade Practices Act. Unsolicited contributions are welcome, though no guarantee is made by the Editor that they will be published, nor any discussion entered into. The editor reserves the right to edit such contributions without notification. Any submission which appears in Polare may be published on our internet site. Opinions expressed in this publication do not necessarily reflect those of the Editor, The Gender Centre Inc.I, the Department of Community Services or the N.S.W. Department of Health.