"Accidental" drug overdose

[Mermaid02]

I'm not trying to be argumentative, really I'm not. But, your thread started with "Accidental Overdose - Does it bother anyone else when they say this?" It was only in your next sentence that you equated "accidental overdose" with someone using illegal drugs or legal drugs in an illegal manner.

Just pointing out accidental overdoses include OTHER causes than the two you mentioned, and why it doesn't bother me when I hear it.

It should have only been one sentence? It's all in the first post- I'm not back tracking.....

 

[Lisa loves Pooh]

It just means it isn't a suicide. Both are tragic but are still two very different things. RIP Corey Haim

WHAT--when the heck did that happen?????

 

[Mermaid02]

WHAT--when the heck did that happen?????

It was just announced an hour or so ago- my heart goes out to his family. He was only 38.

 

[RadioNate]

You take drugs, you better plan on dying because it's a real possibility.

and it is a real possibly when you drive you car or zillion other things.

I've known people who have done illegal drugs for years. I'm talking 40+ years and none have died yet.

I'm not pro-illegal drug. But I also don't think that illegal drug use is an automatic death sentence.

 

[krcit]

Doesn't bother me. I find it sad when someone dies like that. Such a waste. People who take drugs or drive drunk or do other stupid reckless things are usually not thinking they will die. It's the "it'll never happen to me" mentality.

 

[Mermaid02]

and it is a real possibly when you drive you car or zillion other things.

I've known people who have done illegal drugs for years. I'm talking 40+ years and none have died yet.

I'm not pro-illegal drug. But I also don't think that illegal drug use is an automatic death sentence.

Seriously? You are comparing driving your car to being a drug addict? Maybe if you are an illegal street racer.....

It's not an automatic death sentence, but it's more than a possibility. Sometimes it's not even the WORST possibility...

 

[Lisa loves Pooh]

It was just announced an hour or so ago- my heart goes out to his family. He was only 38.

That was quite unexpected.

As far as "accidental"--he was an addict. Unless tests prove otherwise, he probably was just on yet another drug binge.

I know Cory Feldman tried to help him. So sad.

I agree with others--accident implies lack of intent to commit suicide. It doesn't make it any less stupid and dangerous, but it just means that he did not plan to off himself.

Much like any other high-risk activity--death can happen..it doesn't mean the participant wished to die.

 

[Mermaid02]

Doesn't bother me. I find it sad when someone dies like that. Such a waste. People who take drugs or drive drunk or do other stupid reckless things are usually not thinking they will die. It's the "it'll never happen to me" mentality.

It's VERY sad, a wasted life many times. I just don't see it as an accident- the person chose to use illegal drugs. Chose to head down the road to addiction- very often the end of that road is the morgue.

 

[Lisa loves Pooh]

Seriously? You are comparing driving your car to being a drug addict? Maybe if you are an illegal street racer.....

It's not an automatic death sentence, but it's more than a possibility. Sometimes it's not even the WORST possibility...

Any high risk activity involves risk of death.

Just b/c this activity is illegal, doesn't mean he took his life intentionally.

Clearly you disagree, but it won't change what is medically and legally accurate.

 

[happygirl]

It's VERY sad, a wasted life many times. I just don't see it as an accident- the person chose to use illegal drugs. Chose to head down the road to addiction- very often the end of that road is the morgue.

I don't think anyone chooses to get addicted.

I think you should volunter half way house. I think it might open your eyes to drug addictions and what really goes on.

 

[Jennasis]

Wow . OP, you seem to have a BIG issue with this. Perhaps you have had some unfortunate dealings with such an issue in your personal life, but you are being so argumentative with everyone. Why bother asking for opinions if your going to argue with everyone who doesn't agree with you (and BTW, nobody has yet).

To answer your question. NO. It does not bother me.

 

[RadioNate]

Seriously? You are comparing driving your car to being a drug addict? Maybe if you are an illegal street racer.....

It's not an automatic death sentence, but it's more than a possibility. Sometimes it's not even the WORST possibility...

You said, if you take drugs, plan on dying because it is a real possibility.

There is absolutely a 'real possibility" of death any time you drive. Look up the statistics. More people die in car accidents than from drug overdoses. Yes drugs may have a bigger risk but death is a 'real possibility' in a lot of everyday activities other than drug use.

Death is a real possibility in childbirth or any surgery. Are you obese? Do you work out? Eat fatty, unhealthy foods? For some one with clogged arteries eating McDonalds could come with a 'real possibility' of death.

I'm absolutely serious that many things come with a real possibility of death.

 

[luvmy3]

Doesn't bother me either and I know someone who died from an accidental overdose. He was an addict, but he certainly wasn't trying to kill himself.

 

[Tink888]

Does it bother anyone else when they say this? If someone is using illegal drugs or legal drugs in an illegal manner and they die- where is the accident?

No, I agree with the other posters, to me it just means they didn't intend to kill themselves when they took the drugs.

It makes the druggie sound like a victim.

It doesn't to me. It just sounds like an accident. Yes, illegal drugs can kill you but I don't think most drug users intend on killing themselves when they take drugs. I think they just intend on getting high. I don't think of them as victims. They had free will and they made a bad choice.

To me it's kind of like a person who drives drunk, causes an accident and kills someone. Yes, the behavior is stupid and can kill someone but the driver didn't intend on killing anyone. They're certainly aren't a victim but intent to kill wasn't there.

Anything can kill a person but if they weren't intentionally trying to die and they do, it's an accident. Doesn't necessarily make a person a victim.

An accident is just an unintended consequence.

 

[MerMom60_94]

It's VERY sad, a wasted life many times. I just don't see it as an accident- the person chose to use illegal drugs. Chose to head down the road to addiction- very often the end of that road is the morgue.

Loreli, you have to remember a lot of people make these poor choices (drugs, cigarettes, whatever ) when they are young and feel invincible. They then become addicted and have trouble shaking it off. I have a family member who was a heroin addict when she was my DDs age. She was going through some problems at home (i.e. her parents divorce) and made some really bad choices during that time. Now she is working toward cleaning up her act but has at least once, that I know of, slipped backward and had to go back into rehab. My heart goes out to her because she is a good person and I see her trying but she really, really struggles with this sometimes. I hear where you are coming from but I agree with the others that some of us make bad choices and sometimes those choices can lead to serious consequences including death.

 

[okeydokey]

You take drugs, you better plan on dying because it's a real possibility.

I take drugs every day. They are prescribed by my Dr. I don't plan on dying. Accidental overdose means I was not trying to kill myself but the combination or amount I was taking was fatal. It is a very accurate description of what happened.

 

[lovin diz]

seriously? Someone chooses to shoot up heroin and they are a victim? Unless someone overpowers them and puts the needle in their arm- they made a choice.

ita!!! but i will say, i dont care what they call it...I have my opinion, and other people have theirs

 

[krcit]

It's VERY sad, a wasted life many times. I just don't see it as an accident- the person chose to use illegal drugs. Chose to head down the road to addiction- very often the end of that road is the morgue.

I have seen and known too many addicts to think that any of them chose to be addicts. Sure, they made a stupid decision to start taking drugs but had no idea what was to come. I was at a wake a few weeks ago for a 44 year old man. A beautiful, sweet, kind and loving man who was an addict. Believe me, he did not want to die.

 

[Briarmom]

You said, if you take drugs, plan on dying because it is a real possibility.

There is absolutely a 'real possibility" of death any time you drive. Look up the statistics. More people die in car accidents than from drug overdoses. Yes drugs may have a bigger risk but death is a 'real possibility' in a lot of everyday activities other than drug use.

Death is a real possibility in childbirth or any surgery. Are you obese? Do you work out? Eat fatty, unhealthy foods? For some one with clogged arteries eating McDonalds could come with a 'real possibility' of death.

I'm absolutely serious that many things come with a real possibility of death.

This sums up my feelings as well.

 

[Mermaid02]

I don't think anyone chooses to get addicted.

I think you should volunter half way house. I think it might open your eyes to drug addictions and what really goes on.

I worked in a hospital for years- I saw my share of addicts.

Wow . OP, you seem to have a BIG issue with this. Perhaps you have had some unfortunate dealings with such an issue in your personal life, but you are being so argumentative with everyone. Why bother asking for opinions if your going to argue with everyone who doesn't agree with you (and BTW, nobody has yet).

To answer your question. NO. It does not bother me.

I guess you're probably all right. I am feeling a bit testy today. It just makes me angry that people still, in this day and age when folks KNOW the dangers still decide to take that first needle to the arm. I really DON'T get it.