Principles of diagnosis and treatment of addictive drugs overdose.

The patient (or rather the victim) takes the drug to escape from his problems, and may accidentally overdose himself; or, having achieved a pleasant experience from a modest dose, may foolishly feel that a larger dose will have an even better effect. Other reasons for taking overdoses may be social, due to mistaken or malicious pressures brought upon the victim by associates. Sometimes a sympathetic youngster, with good insight into the evils of the world (especially as evidenced by the 'establishment') develops a rebellious, frantic desperation, trying to alter things beyond possibility, and turning to drugs in despairing impotence.