Here are the signs to look for indicating an overdose and what to do if you see them.

Drug overdoses have become an increasingly common occurrence and are an extremely serious problem in the U.S. in 2021, more than 106,000 people reportedly died due to drug overdoses, more than twice the amount of overdose deaths reported in 2015. Knowing what to do if you think someone has overdosed can be the difference between life and death.

What to Do If You Suspect an Overdose

If an overdose is caused by opioids, such as heroin or oxycontin, a drug known as Narcan (naloxone) can save the person's life. If you suspect someone has overdosed on drugs, call 911 immediately and stay with the person. You should not be afraid to call for help for fear of getting in trouble. The best thing you can do for the other person, and for yourself, is to seek immediate medical help.

If Narcan is available, administer it to the person if you have been trained to use it while you wait for emergency help. If you don't know how to use it, tell the 911 operator you have Narcan available and ask them to give you instructions on how to use it.

If the person is not breathing, the 911 operator can also give you instructions on how to follow CPR protocols, which include doing pulse checks and rescue breathing, until the ambulance arrives.

Signs of Opioid Overdose

The first step in getting help for someone who has overdosed is recognizing the signs of an opioid overdose. These include:

• Shallow breathing or not breathing at all
• Blue lips or fingertips
• Floppy arms and legs
• Disorientation
• Unresponsive to stimulus
• Unconscious

If you can't wake someone and you suspect they may have taken opioids, don't just assume they're asleep. It's important to get help right away because it can sometimes take hours for someone to die from an overdose. By getting help right away, you may save the person's life.

The most effective way to help someone who may have overdosed is to call 911. Do not try to handle things on your own, hoping you can make it better. Trying to induce vomiting, getting the person to walk it off, putting the person in a cold shower, giving them stimulant drugs to "wake them up" or letting them sleep it off may cost the person their life. There is nothing you can successfully do to combat an overdose of opioids on your own, other than to administer Narcan if you have it and call 911 for emergency help. CPR protocols for rescue breathing and pulse checks should also be followed if needed.

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Date Last Reviewed: June 16, 2023

Editorial Review: Andrea Cohen, Editorial Director, Baldwin Publishing, Inc. Contact Editor

Medical Review: Perry Pitkow, MD

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