breathe -- the overdose game

December 6, 2002 11:20 AM

breathe -- the overdose game
"You and some friends have been drinking all day and you just scored & cooked some dope. The guy who went first barely got the needle out before collapsing in a weird position. What ya gonna do?"
do you know what to do if someone overdoses, and what resources -- if any -- exist in your community to educate people about overdoses? if there are no such resources do you think there should be, and what would you like to see?
posted by dolface (17 comments total)

do you know what to do if someone overdoses

Call me flip, but I make a point to not hang out with heroin junkies so I don't have to deal with that particular problem. But for the record, I would call 911 real fast and hope they have good insurance.
posted by norm at 11:35 AM on December 6, 2002

This would be a lot cooler if they expanded it to include all first aid situations, not just overdoses. Or at least made it more random; all the overdosing guys seem to have the same symptoms.
posted by Mitrovarr at 11:47 AM on December 6, 2002

A military mercenary ex-junkie said a bunch of the boys were shooting it up with a new load of heroin. The first to shoot dropped -- dead before he hit the ground. "Better cut it somemore" was all anybody else said. Que Sera.
posted by kablam at 11:48 AM on December 6, 2002

wow. no love here.

this seemed to be a good resource for folks who might get in this sort of situation. commendable.

nice link.
posted by fishfucker at 11:57 AM on December 6, 2002

Speaking as one who (legally and appropriately) injects others with potent narcotics on a regular basis, I would say this site does give pretty good advice; they also encourage dialling 911; you will win in 3 moves if you do that and don't let the patient stop breathing.

It would be more interesting if they had drugs other than narcotics in their scenarios, though.
posted by TedW at 12:09 PM on December 6, 2002

Drag said junkie down tenement stairs by his ankles, noggin' bouncin' off each step. Drag him onto street and waiting cab. Stick him in cab with 10 bob in his shirt pocket. Tell cabbie to step on it.

At least, that's what I saw in a movie, once.
posted by lupus_yonderboy at 12:14 PM on December 6, 2002

*PLEASE* everyone go take a first aid class and a CPR class!! We should all know what to do in these situations.
posted by katy_ at 12:21 PM on December 6, 2002

I find it pretty neat that my flip advice has won me 100% of the games I've played.
posted by norm at 12:26 PM on December 6, 2002

what resources -- if any -- exist in your community to educate people about overdoses

I have no idea. I think that the money would be better spent telling people not to take drugs that have overdose potential, and then shrugging if someone won't listen.

There are enough people who are desperate because of situations beyond their control who deserve our help. Why should resources be devoted to people who go looking for trouble?
posted by Mayor Curley at 12:31 PM on December 6, 2002

I commend them on their page, if for no other reason it may save some lives. I think the attitude that "I'll never be involved with junkies" is kind of naive, IMHO. Your best friend, or even your child may someday call you, scared out of their wits and possibly overdosing... I don't think they're going to want to hear about your efforts to avoid the current situation, and would really appreciate any well-founded efforts to save their lives.
posted by zekinskia at 12:37 PM on December 6, 2002

The FAQ is worth reading:

Q: Doesn't this sort of thing encourage drug use?

A: We don't believe that teaching people how to respond to a medical emergency encourages drug use. We believe that discussing overdose with injecting drug users has the effect of encouraging people to think realistically about their drug use and its possible consequences. In our experience, such contemplation has many effects, but encouraging drug use isn't really one of them.

Independently of the subject, this is a great example of well-designed educational material, partly because it doesn't condescend to people or moralize at them.
posted by fuzz at 12:40 PM on December 6, 2002

Honey! Where's my adrenaline shot?!?
posted by jbelshaw at 12:42 PM on December 6, 2002

One thing I don't get is this line: "If there's more than one of you there, have someone clean up any needles and shit laying around, and take their ID if you think they have warrants." Without ID or any of the drugs, wouldn't it be difficult for care providers to get a potential needed medical history, or an ability to see what was in the victim's system to be able to provide adequate care? Better arrested than dead, I say...at least in BC where drug laws aren't as draconian as others.
posted by Salmonberry at 1:07 PM on December 6, 2002

Salmonberry, it's fairly common here (the u.s.) for drug users with outstanding warrants to be tossed in jail to wait for a court date. while in jail they are usually forced to kick (detox) cold-turkey, which can be an experience so horrible that almost ANY alternative is better.
the best scenario, for the user, is to get out of the hospital asap, and have as little interaction with the authorities as possible.
posted by dolface at 1:33 PM on December 6, 2002

There was even a 1969 record album called Overdose that featured a board game about drug dealing, but it did not have the socially redeeming value of the online game.
posted by jonp72 at 1:42 PM on December 6, 2002

There are enough people who are desperate because of situations beyond their control who deserve our help.

Yes, these people, be it their first time shooting up or be it a street-worn junkie, deserve to die--to perish in their own filth and immorality. But, what about their children? Fuck them. They deserve what they get for being born unto such a pathetic waste of oxygen. I mean, they were "looking for trouble."
posted by brittney at 9:44 PM on December 6, 2002

Yes, whatever happened to "There, but for the grace of God, go I?". Or "It coulda been you, twerp" in non-religious language.
posted by MiguelCardoso at 2:04 AM on December 7, 2002