How You Can Respond to an Opioid Overdose

Responding to an opioid overdose can feel overwhelming, especially if you're the first on the scene. The person might not be able to talk, and you might be worried about doing the wrong thing. We're here to give you some quick tips for handling a tough situation. Take a two-minute break to read this—it could be the knowledge that saves a life one day.

What Are the Signs of Overdose?

An overdose happens when someone takes too high a dose of a substance. Taking too many opioids can make your breathing slow down. If you don't get enough oxygen to your brain, it can be really dangerous and even lead to death. Look out for symptoms of opioid overdose like passing out, not reacting to anything around, barely breathing or not at all, visibly struggling to breathe, throwing up, making weird choking or snoring-like sounds, and having an unusual skin color. It can be tricky to tell the difference between someone peacefully asleep and someone experiencing a potential overdose. Take a moment to observe if the person's chest or back consistently rises and falls, which is a good sign of normal breathing. 

What To Do if Someone is Overdosing

Every second counts when someone is overdosing. Follow these steps:

• Call 911 right away.
• Administer naloxone, if available.
• Try to keep the person awake and breathing.
• Lay them on their side to prevent choking.
• Stay with them until emergency assistance arrives.

Be aware you may see some possible naloxone side effects, including withdrawal symptoms such as fever, anxiety, irritability, rapid heart rate, sweating, nausea, vomiting, and tremors.

What is Naloxone?

Naloxone, aka Narcan, is a life-saving drug that often comes in a nasal spray. You don't have to be a trained medical professional to use it. It works on various opioids, like codeine, heroin, fentanyl, morphine, Oxycodone, OxyContin, Percocet, Vicodin, and other prescription opioid medications

 Bourvana, A. (2023) "Everything You Need to Know about Narcan," Boston University www.bu.edu/articles/2023/everything-you-need-to-know-about-narcan/                          Centers for Disease Control and Prevention "Frequently Asked Questions about Naloxone," www.cdc.gov/stopoverdose/naloxone/faq.html

The Limits of Naloxone

Naloxone doesn't act as a preventive measure for overdoses. Also, considering those signs of an overdose, it's highly unlikely that someone in that state could self-administer the drug. Think of naloxone more like a support system, where someone else steps in to provide assistance. 

Where To Get Naloxone

LEAF has teamed up with the Oneonta Narcan Initiative to share ONEbox™ kits in our community. These kits are pretty special—they've got four doses of naloxone in a nasal spray and super-easy instructions. With a ONEbox™ kit, anyone can step up and deal with an opioid-related emergency.

You can make a big impact and save lives by knowing the signs, calling for help, and being ready to use naloxone. Spreading the word, supporting harm reduction, and showing compassion also play a part in tackling the opioid crisis. Together, as a community, we can make strides toward a safer and healthier future for everyone.

To learn more about Naloxone, how to get it, and how to use it, give us a call at (607) 432-0090. We'd love to hear from you. 

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