3. WHAT CAUSES A DRUG OVERDOSE?

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what increases the risk of overdose?

You increase the risk of overdosing if you:

use too much (being too greedy);
use a stronger batch - quality fluctuates from dealer to dealer, and even batch to batch from the same dealer;
use after a break - on release from detox, rehabilitation or prison;
mix heroin with alcohol and/or pills (benzos) - responsible for more than 60% of fatal heroin ODs in 2005;
mix heroin with speed - responsible for more than 20% of fatal heroin ODs in 2005;
use ketamine or GHB alone, or mixed with benzos, alcohol or opiates (very dangerous);
have been on naltrexone and stop taking the tablets or remove the implant (using with no tolerance);
use again after having Narcan;
are in the first few days of a buprenorphine (bupe) or methadone (done) program and you use heroin, or you combine bupe or methadone with benzos and/or alcohol;
use in a different environment than you are accustomed to using in;
use by yourself, especially alone, at home; and
use when you are tired, run-down or unhealthy.