You’re at a party and notice someone in the corner who doesn’t look right. Their eyes are wide, they’re moving around quickly, talking fast but not making sense, and sweating even though the room isn’t hot. Suddenly, they seem panicked, almost like they can’t control their body or thoughts. This scary situation could be a sign of overamping.
“Overamping” can happen when someone uses too many stimulants (such as cocaine, meth, or ecstasy) or in combination with other factors. In other words, it is a stimulant overdose, which can result in strokes, heart attacks, and psychosis. Knowing what overamping looks like and how to respond to an episode can help save a life and keep your loved ones safe.
What causes overamping?
Overamping happens when the body and brain get pushed past their limits. Here are some of the main causes:1
- Taking Too Much of a Stimulant
Substances like cocaine, meth, MDMA (“Molly” or “Ecstasy”), or even prescription stimulants (like Adderall or Ritalin if misused) can cause the body to go into overdrive if someone takes a big dose. - Using for a Long Time Without Rest
Staying awake for days while using stimulants makes the body and brain exhausted. Lack of sleep and food can make overamping more likely. - Mixing Drugs
Using stimulants with other drugs—especially alcohol, opioids, or more stimulants—can overload the body. - Body Stress
Heat, dehydration, hunger, or already being sick can make the body less able to handle the drug’s effects. A person might also not be able to handle as much as they used to (known as tolerance) which can lead to overamping. - Hidden or Contaminated Drugs
Street drugs are often mixed with other unknown substances. For example, cocaine or meth might be cut with fentanyl or other dangerous chemicals. This makes reactions harder to predict. - Mental Health Factors
Anxiety, stress, or a history of trauma can make the mental side effects of stimulants worse, leading to paranoia, panic, or psychosis. Using in an unfamiliar or uncomfortable environment can also contribute to this.
The circumstances of overamping can be different for everyone. It can happen to someone using stimulants for the first time but can also easily occur for an individual who uses stimulants regularly.
What are the symptoms of overamping?
Overamping can cause both physical and mental distress. Symptoms include:2
- Upset stomach and vomiting
- Uncontrollable jerking movements
- Inability to remain still
- Increased heart rate and pulse
- Passing out
- Teeth grinding
- Chest pain
- Headache
- Dehydration
- Fever, often with sweating and chills
- Severe anxiety and panic
- Feeling paranoid, thinking others are out to get them, even if it’s not true
- Feeling confused and not knowing where they are or what’s happening
- Getting angry or frustrated easily
- Pacing, moving around a lot, or unable to calm down
- Sudden aggression – lashing out or becoming violent without warning
- Thoughts of suicide
More immediately severe, life-threatening results of overamping include:
- Stroke
- Heart attack
- Seizure
- Overheating (very high body temperature)
Is overamping the same as overdosing?
“Overamping” is basically the same as a stimulant overdose, since overdose literally means taking too much of something. So why don’t we just call it an overdose?
The answer is that many people use “overamping” to acknowledge the difference between stimulant overdose and opioid overdose. (Opioids include heroin, fentanyl and pain pills like Oxycontin and Percocet). When people talk about an overdose, they are often referring to opioid-related overdose, when breathing gets too slow and shallow, which can be fatal.3 This doesn’t happen in a stimulant overdose (though it can cause hyperventilation, which happens when a person breathes too quickly and too deeply without inhaling enough).
“Overamping” is also used by some in order to acknowledge that people can often experience very negative physical and mental health effects on stimulants without fatally overdosing.4
How to treat overamping
If you or a loved one are overamping, it’s important to recognize the signs and know how to help.
First, assess the situation. If it’s a medical emergency, such as overheating, heart attack, or a stroke, call 911 immediately. Keep the person comfortable until EMS arrives. If someone is experiencing a mental health crisis, you can call 988, the national Suicide and Crisis Lifeline, which provides 24/7 mental health support.
If you or someone who you’re with is overamping and is experiencing anxiety, distress, or is otherwise in a non-life-threatening condition, there are things you can do to help:5
- Cool down with ice packs, wet cloths, air-conditioned areas, fans, etc. to prevent overheating
- Provide water and/or drinks with electrolytes (ex. Gatorade) to hydrate
- Offer food
- Lay down to avoid dizziness or fainting
- Do breathing exercises (for example, the 3-3-3 method: breathe in for three seconds, hold for three seconds, and exhale for three seconds)
Remember that every state has some version of a “Good Samaritan” law, which means that an individual who helps someone in a crisis like a drug overdose can be legally protected from charges like drug possession.6 So, never hesitate to get help if someone you know is in danger – you could help save a life.
How to prevent overamping
There are several things you or a loved one can do to help prevent overamping and generally reduce harm when it comes to stimulant use.
- Get checked regularly for heart conditions or other medical issues that could worsen due to stimulant use
- Go slow; test your ability to handle a stimulant before using more
- Use safe smoking kits and clean needles
- Eat and drink water while using
- Don’t use alone; be with others whenever possible or use a service like the Never Use Alone hotline to be connected to someone virtually
- Don’t mix substances
Unlike an opioid overdose, a stimulant overdose can’t be treated with naloxone (Narcan). However, it’s still a good idea to carry it as stimulants can be mixed with opioids and your loved one might not know they are present.
If you need help with talking to your loved one about the risk of overamping, connect with our helpline. Our specialists can listen to your concerns and help you develop a plan to help your loved one.