Drugs of Abuse

Intentional and unintentional exposures to legal and illicit drugs result in injury and death of children, teens and adults in our service area every year. The Oregon Poison Center provides emergency treatment in cases of accidental and intentional drug overdoses. Our specialists also work with healthcare partners in complex cases and provide expert toxicological consultation.

From cannabis and fentanyl to emerging street drugs and prescription opioids, these substances can cause great harm if used in the wrong way or fall into the hands of children. Learn more about drugs of abuse and how to safely store substances to protect your loved ones. 

Drugs of abuse

Kratom

Kratom is a tropical tree native to Southeast Asia. The psychoactive ingredient is found in the leaves of the tree which are crushed, then brewed as a tea or placed into capsules. The leaves may also be chewed. At low doses, kratom produces stimulant effects with users reporting increased alertness and physical energy. At high doses, users experience sedative effects. Kratom contains chemical that are opioid agonists. Unfortunately, chronic use of kratom may lead to dependence and withdrawal symptoms when you stop using. Kratom has also been associated with withdrawal syndromes in newborns when the pregnant mother uses it chronically.

There have been multiple reports of deaths associated with people who ingested kratom, usually when someone tries to abuse kratom to get high or combines it with other drugs or alcohol. Currently, kratom is unregulated by the FDA and legal to purchase over the internet because it is label "not for human consumption."

Learn more about kratom from the National Institute on Drug Abuse.

Prevent toxic exposure to cannabis products

The chemicals in cannabis that create the "high" feeling (THC or delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol) can be toxic for infants and children and adults users in high doses.

Cannabis edibles may look similar to other food, candy or drinks and can be easily confused for non-marijuana treats. Cannabis edibles may be especially appealing to children who are unable to tell the difference between edibles and regular treats. Cannabis edibles may pose a special risk to adult users because they may be more potent than marijuana that is smoked or vaped. The effects of a marijuana edible also takes longer to show up than marijuana that is smoked and may cause a user to consume more than intended. View the cannabis edible infographic and learn what you need to know about marijuana edibles.

Safety Tips to Prevent Toxic Exposure:

  • Store cannabis, edibles, vapes and refills safely by locking it up and storing it out of sight and reach of children.
  • Avoid mix-ups. Always label homemade cannabis edibles stored in the fridge or freezer.
  • Do not buy any type of e-cigarette, or vaping, products, particularly those containing THC from informal sources like friends, or family, or in-person or online dealers.
  • Do not modify or add any substances to e-cigarette, or vaping, products that are not intended by the manufacturer, including products purchased through retail establishments.
  • If your child eats or drinks cannabis by accident call the poison center right away. If your child is not responding, call 9-1-1 or go to a hospital for emergency care right away.

Additional resources:

The Oregon Poison Center can be reached by calling 1-800-222-1222.

Cannabis and pregnancy

Cannabis may harm your unborn baby, learn more about how to protect your baby from exposure to cannabis by reviewing our resources.

There is no known safe level of cannabis use during pregnancy. Using cannabis during pregnancy may impact your baby's development. Maternal cannabis use may still be dangerous to the baby after birth. THC exposure via breastmilk or via cannabis smoke may affect the newborn baby's brain development and result in other long-term consequences.

Cannabis and Pregnancy Resources:

Preventing cannabis use among teens

Recreational cannabis is now legal for adults aged 21 and over to possess and use in Oregon and Guam. One in five teens in the U.S. uses cannabis and more teens than ever are vaping cannabis. It is important for teens to have accurate information to make healthy choices. Parents, teachers and other trusted adults are important sources of information for young people. Here are some resources to support these conversations. 

Resources for parents:

Resources for teens:

A national emergency and local public health crisis

Drug overdoses are the leading cause of injury-related death in the United States. Of those deaths, almost 68% involved a prescription or illicit opioid. Oregon has one of the highest rates of misuse of prescription opioids in the nation.

Learn the signs of an opioid overdose:

  • Small, constricted “pinpoint” pupils.
  • Falling asleep, lessened alertness or loss of consciousness.
  • Slow, shallow breathing.

If someone is experiencing signs of an opioid overdose, call 9-1-1 and administer naloxone right away to reverse the effects.

The 3 Waves of the Epidemic:

The past 20 years of the opioid epidemic can be defined by three distinct waves: 1) An increase in commonly prescribed opioids and associated deaths 2) Deaths from heroin 3) Overdose deaths involving synthetic opioids (e.g. illicit fentanyl).  

Visit our opioid safety resources section below to learn more about how to prevent opioid abuse, misuse and overdose. Visit Oregon Health Authority's interactive Opioid Data Dashboard for more information about opioid data in Oregon. 

Pediatric fentanyl exposures

The Oregon Poison Center is reporting a sharp increase in the number of Oregon children who were exposed to fentanyl between 2020 and 2023, and a 449% increase among the same age group nationally, highlighting the devastating impact of the fentanyl crisis on young children. The findings were published in a perspective in the New England Journal of Medicine. Read the full statement from the Oregon Poison Center to learn more.

Opioid overdoses are preventable

Opioid misuse, abuse and overdose is preventable. Here's what you can do:

Safe Storage: Safe storage of opioids and other prescription drugs is key to preventing abuse, misuse, and overdose. Lock up your medications to prevent accidental exposure and misuse by people they are not intended for. Please visit our Medication Safety page for more information about safe medicine storage.

Carry Naloxone if you or a loved one is at risk of overdose. Naloxone is used for the emergency treatment of known or suspected opioid overdose. Naloxone is injected or sprayed in the nose and can be given by anyone. It can quickly restore normal breathing for a person whose breathing has slowed down or stopped because of an opioid overdose. This includes overdose of heroin, morphine, oxycodone (e.g. OxyContin, Percocet), oxymorphone (e.g. Opana), methadone, hydrocodone (e.g. Vicodin), codeine and fentanyl. It is very important to call 911 any time someone has a drug overdose. After the drug wears off, the person could become unconscious again. 

Naloxone for Opioid Overdose 101 is a training that describes what opioids are, how they work, the signs of an opioid overdose, what naloxone is and how it works, when and how to use naloxone. Take the training to learn how you can help save a life. *This training was developed by partners in the state of Utah and contains some content relevant to Utah state laws.

For more information about naloxone rescue and Oregon law please visit the Oregon Health Authority. 

You can help save the life of someone in need. Ask your doctor or pharmacist about naloxone if you believe you or someone you know may be at risk of an overdose.

Safe Medication Disposal: All done with your treatment? Time to get rid of those painkillers. Year-round take back locations at pharmacies and police departments are great options for safely disposing of unused prescriptions. Learn how to dispose of unwanted or unneeded prescription medications by visiting our Medication Safety page.

Family Education. Teach young children not to put anything in their mouths unless a trusted adult says it’s okay. When visiting another household, make sure medicine and drugs are out of reach or locked up. 

Syringe Exchange Program: Learn more about Multnomah County's (Oregon) syringe exchange and needle program.

Additional Resources for families and educators:

  • Medicine Abuse Project by the Partnership for Drug-Free Kids - A resource for parents, educators and health professionals.
  • Lock Your Meds by the National Family Partnership - A resource for families.