Question

Death due to overdosing can happen due to
I. regular use of drugs as prescribed by doctors
II. consuming drugs along with alcohol
III. taking a combination of various unprescribed drugs

• A. Only III
• B. I and II
• C. Only I
• D. II and III

Answer 1

The correct option is D II and III

Drugs are chemical compounds which can have various physical and psychological effects on our body and are often prescribed by doctors to alleviate symptoms of pain, anxiety, depression, insomnia, etc.

While taking drugs in prescribed doses does not have any immediate adverse effects, prolonged use may result in dependence on the drug and the body would fail to function normally in its absence.

Certain illicit as well as prescribed drugs are often misused for their perceived benefits of euphoria, mood elevation, pain relief, loss of contact with reality, etc. The psychological attachment to these effects gradually leads to addiction which again leads to drug dependence.

While the immediate effects of drug abuse might seem beneficial, prolonged abuse of drugs leads to various chronic diseases such as permanent damage to the nervous system, psychosis (loss of contact with reality), damage to major internal organs such as heart, liver and kidneys, etc.

As addiction progresses, an individual’s body grows a tolerance towards the drug and responds to higher doses only. Intake of illicit drugs in excessively large doses or after a long period of abstinence (avoidance) from drugs can also lead to overdosing. Apart from this, mixing of different drugs or consuming drugs along with alcohol can also lead to overdosing. An overdose of drug can lead to death due to respiratory failure, heart failure or cerebral haemorrhage.

Taking drugs in prescribed doses does not lead to overdosing.