An uptempo dance-pop, electropop and nu-disco song, its "club-friendly" production comprises rupturing synths and gritty, automatic beats.

The song was originally recognized as a "fan favorite", before garnering favorable reviews from music critics, some of which went on to publish campaigns for the track be released as a single.

"Overdose" was written by Josh Abraham, Oliver Goldstein, Ali Tamposi, Olivia Waithe and Ciara, while its production was handled by the former two.

"Overdose" was mixed by Jaycen Joshua, with the assistance of Trehy Harris, at Larrabee Sound Studios in North Hollywood, CA.

"[2] "Overdose" initially leaked online on July 17, 2012,[3] as an extended snippet,[4] and was later rumored to serve as the second single from her fifth studio album, titled One Woman Army at the time.

[10] MuuMuse's Bradley Stern published an article entitled, "Ciara Finally Makes 'Overdose' A Single, Restores Faith In Humanity," and later wrote, "Let us now form a prayer circle, call a doctor, get super turnt up and prepare to request 'Overdose' on the hotline".

[11] O'Mance acknowledged its explicit imagery, describing it as "a lady lightly fingering a man's pubic hair with one hand, and his cock and balls with another".

[15] Notable for its shift from her more classical R&B sound towards a predominantly pop-orientated vocal style for the singer,[16] "Overdose" was recognized as the "purest pop track" on Ciara.

[17] Comprising a club groove,[22] and gritty, automatic beat, its sound garnered comparisons to the works of American singer Britney Spears, with whom its producers collaborated with on Femme Fatale (2011).

[24] "Not only could it be used as the official anthem for national drug prevention programs like D.A.R.E., but it will inspire today's youth to train to become EMTs, nurses and [...] surgeons.

"Overdose" was originally recognized as a "fan favorite",[25] before garnering favorable reviews from music critics, some of which went on to publish campaigns for the track be released as a single.

[4] Erika Ramirez of Billboard deemed "Overdose" the best the song on Ciara, and wrote that the track "appeals to fans of all genres, oozing funk and featuring an addictive hook".

[28] Pitchfork Media's Tim Finney opined that despite the track's "straightforward, 2013 carbon dated club-pop" sound, it was "perky electro-pop delivered with such frothy, wide-eyed innocence that it's hard to even notice the subject".

[29] Finney's view was shared by Consequence of Sound's Michael Madden who said while the song was "musically unadventurous," its hooks were "packed tightly together, producing an especially memorable end" to the album.

[16] In a negative review, Fact felt that the "unnecessary dance-pop sheen" of the song "fell flat" and criticized its "unfortunate" use of metaphors.

[18] While Nick Henderson of Tiny Mix Tapes dismissed "Overdose" as an "uncharacteristic sidestep" and felt its sound was "uninspired" and its melodies "familiar".