Heroin Recently OD'd on heroin, have some questions about memory loss and legal repricussion

[velocity92c]

So I've been at a halfway house for about 4 months now and apparently about 10 days ago I OD'd on heroin. I woke up in the hospital with no memory of buying it, and no recent memories at all actually. Ever since then I'm having trouble remembering anything leading up to about a week before I bought the heroin. I'm even having trouble remembering things like my social security and phone numbers. They do come to me, but it takes a few seconds of thinking. My first question is, is there typically any kind of permanent brain damage or memory loss associated with an overdose or can I expect this to fade away with time? I feel very handicapped at the moment, and wasn't able to find much information about this online.

The second part is, the police were called and showed up with an ambulance. I'm curious if there will be any charges pressed against me. Apparently they found the rest of the heroin, a syringe and spoon on me. Is there a good chance I'll be charged for these things or do they typically let it slide in the event of an OD? I'm not asking for any kind of legal advice whatsoever and I'm sure it varies from state to state and situation to situation, I guess the only question I have is has anyone ever been in or had a friend in the same situation and been charged with a crime before? I believe the police have my wallet and such but I'm scared to even try to get it back for fear of being charged with a crime. I've tried to google both of these questions and had no luck whatsoever. Thanks in advance for any help.

Note to mods :I tried my hardest not to violate any rules with this post, but if only part of the post does violate rules, please only remove that portion. Also if this post does violate rules, is there anywhere I could get the info I'm seeking?

 

[HdoubleODeezy]

if you were going to be charged you would have been already.. they can't take your shit and wait for days and then arrest you.. if you were going to be arrested there would be a cop with you by your side in the hospital until you got out and then straight to booking you go.

As for ODing and memory i can't answer because i have ODed on dope but never had problems with my memory.. perhaps you took a bunch of benzos along with the dope causing the OD and loss of memory?

 

[sekio]

Depending on how deprived of oxygen your brain was when you OD'd, memory loss is a completely normal symptom that should get better with time.

 

[HdoubleODeezy]

^ true.. every time i OD'd (yes it has happened many times in my past ) i had someone there to slap or hit me to wake me right up as soon as id pass out and repeat for hours until i was fine enough to stay awake on my own.. so i guess i was lucky and never deprived myself of tons of oxygen to cause memory probs. but still even when you're just high on dope you are depriving your self of oxygen because you breathe slower and less often.

 

[psychopath]

if you were going to be charged you would have been already.. they can't take your shit and wait for days and then arrest you.. if you were going to be arrested there would be a cop with you by your side in the hospital until you got out and then straight to booking you go.

I don't know if that is true.

To answer your questions:

Have not experienced that large of a memory gap. I have not remembered the previous 24 hours before the OD, but not the entire week or important personal info. The cops called my parents (I was 23 at the time) and told them I had overdosed and told them to come get my wallet and whatever else. My parents are who found the needle and spoon. The point being, I think in these situations they punk police have some understanding/compassion, at least around where I live. I have been told of similar results with associates of mine. 3 police cars and an ambulance (I was later told) were there.

 

[HdoubleODeezy]

well when i was in the hospital high, they caught shit on me when they searched me because i got into a fight and the cops were called and me and the other person both had to go to the hospital we were all fucked up (not high fucked up, but beat up from the fight) and i was goin to jail for the weekend and a cop stayed next to me in the hospital the whole time i was there and when they released me from the hospital i was taken to the police station and then jail for a weekend till i could go to court monday and get PR bail.

That was just why i thought that.. i could be wrong though, it depends on the situation i guess.

 

[velocity92c]

I've not had much experience with people who have OD'd but the couple people who I know have OD'd didn't end up going to jail, so I'm hoping I can avoid it myself. The most important thing is getting my wallet back but I'm terrified to even try to do that as I'm afraid they will arrest me if I do. Everything in it can be replaced, but I can't take another charge right now. Thanks for the info, and if anyone else knows anymore, feel free to post. My memory seems to slowly be getting better every day, but it's very slow. I was expecting to be back at 100% by now but I'm still having a lot of memory problems.

 

[velocity92c]

Also, I just realized I posted basically this same topic twice without even realizing it. I have no recollection of making the other thread at all. I'm very worried about brain damage but I will give it some time. Mods, feel free to lock the other thread.

 

[Missykins]

It's quite common to be charged with felony possession after an overdose. I am not trying to create panic here, but I received a drug-related charge five
weeks after a trip to the ER. You might want to speak with a physician about the memory loss, especially if you think that it is worsening. Hypoxia to
the brain is bad news.

Go to the Legal forum archive for more info about your law-related question.

 

[dokomo]

The fact that you have profound memory loss and continued problems functioning is an indicator that moderate to severe brain damage occurred. The extent of this damage is difficult to quantify without proper diagnostics and exams. Different areas of the brain perform different functions, and there are cognitive tests designed to examine the function of individual areas and narrow down where the most damage occurred. The hippocampus is involved in memory, so its likely that some of the damage was sustained there.

These symptoms can improve over time, especially if you see a doctor and get into cognitive rehabilitation. Therapies can include coping mechanisms (essentially re-learning how to remember things or perform certain tasks with what you have) and other strategies.

I know of at least one study that showed regular exercise promoted the growth of new neurons in the hippocampus. An "enriched environment" also encourages neurogenesis, so part of your therapy may include cognitive challenges or tasks designed to encourage this.

 

[mrflowers00]

you will probably be charged with possession of a controlled substance and paraphernalia

 

[dayday]

I got caught w heroin b4, like 4.5 grams, and they let me go home and I didn't hear shit for 9 months, till the cops pounded on my door 1 day at 6am and bared in when my mom opened the door. pretty sweet, not!!

 

[cj]

You need to get out the phonebook and start calling attorneys find one who will do a free consultation they will be able to give you the best answer to your legal situation. I have seen people arrested weeks to months after initial contact with the police.

 

[nowdubnvr6]

if you were going to be charged you would have been already.. they can't take your shit and wait for days and then arrest you.. if you were going to be arrested there would be a cop with you by your side in the hospital until you got out and then straight to booking you go.

As for ODing and memory i can't answer because i have ODed on dope but never had problems with my memory.. perhaps you took a bunch of benzos along with the dope causing the OD and loss of memory?

ACtually they might not have a cop sitting there with you. I had a massive car wreck drunk as fuck and was in a coma from the wreck and almost paralyzed and they came and arrested me and charged me with DWI 4 months later so shit goes different everytime. And you might have brain damage from the OD maybe you stopped breathing and lack of oxygen to the brain can definitely make that happen.

 

[What was it?]

Fuck I agree. Heroin is a really strong high with REALLY slow breathing (a proper H high that is). None of that 'I smoked a bit of tar off a foil bullshit'