Drug Overdose Information

Drug overdoses are the leading cause of RI accidental deaths, with more people dying annually from overdoses than die from fires, firearms, and car crashes combined. We are continuing to lose lives needlessly to a disease that has effective treatment.

Drug overdoses can be either accidental or intentional. Accidental overdoses are unintentional, usually occurring when the wrong dug was taken in error or someone accidentally uses too much of a drug. Intentional overdoses are purposely self-inflicted, such as someone trying to die by suicide. Regardless of the intent, any loss of life due to an overdose is tragic and any overdose can have a lasting impact.

Please visit the following websites for more information about drug overdoses, particularly involving opioids:

• Prevent Overdose RI
• Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration