Category: Health & Safety

⚡ What to Do When Someone May Have Overdosed

An overdose can happen when someone takes too much of a drug, combines substances, takes medication incorrectly, or unknowingly consumes a stronger or different substance than expected.

You do not need to know exactly what the person took before calling for help. If an overdose is possible, treat it as an emergency.

Call 911 Immediately If

The person cannot be awakened.
Breathing is slow, irregular, difficult, or stopped.
Lips, fingertips, or skin appear blue, gray, or extremely pale.
The person is choking, gurgling, or making unusual snoring sounds.
A seizure occurs.
The person has severe chest pain.
The person is extremely confused or agitated.
Body temperature is dangerously high.
The person collapses.
Several substances may have been combined.
You are unsure whether the person is safe.

Tell the dispatcher that an overdose may have occurred. Describe what you see and follow the instructions provided.

Do not wait for every warning sign to appear.

Check Responsiveness and Breathing

Call the person’s name.
Tap their shoulder firmly.
Look for normal breathing.
Check whether their chest is rising.
Listen for choking, gasping, or gurgling sounds.

Gasping or occasional irregular breaths are not normal breathing.

If the person is not breathing normally, begin CPR or rescue breathing according to your training and the dispatcher’s instructions.

Give Naloxone When Opioids May Be Involved

Naloxone can temporarily reverse an overdose caused by opioids such as fentanyl, heroin, oxycodone, hydrocodone, codeine, or morphine.

Give naloxone naloxone if the person:

Cannot be awakened
Is breathing very slowly or not at all
Has pinpoint pupils
Has blue, gray, or pale lips or fingertips
Has a limp body
Is making choking, gurgling, or unusual snoring sounds

If you are unsure whether opioids are involved, give naloxone when it is available. Naloxone will not harm someone who is not experiencing an opioid overdose.

After giving naloxone:

Call 911 if no one has called yet.
Support the person’s breathing.
Give another dose after the interval stated in the product instructions if the person does not respond.
Stay with the person.
Be prepared for symptoms to return.

Naloxone may wear off before the opioid does. The person still needs emergency medical care even if they wake up.

Place a Breathing Person on Their Side

If the person is unconscious but breathing normally:

Roll them onto their side.
Bend the upper leg to help prevent rolling.
Angle the face downward.
Keep the airway open.
Continue checking their breathing.
Stay until emergency responders arrive.

This position may reduce the chance of choking if the person vomits.

Do not place someone in this position if you suspect a serious neck or spinal injury unless leaving them on their back would create a greater immediate danger.

Tell Responders What You Know

Gather information without delaying emergency care.

Tell responders:

What the person may have taken
How much may have been taken
When it was taken
Whether alcohol or multiple substances were involved
Whether naloxone was given
How many naloxone doses were used
Current medication
Known medical conditions
Whether the person fell or struck their head

Save containers, pill bottles, packaging, or remaining substances for responders when it is safe to do so. Do not taste or directly handle an unknown substance.

Do Not

Leave the person alone.
Assume they will sleep it off.
Put them in a shower or bath.
Give coffee, food, alcohol, or other drugs.
Force them to walk.
Make them vomit.
Put anything in their mouth during a seizure.
Restrain them unless immediate safety requires it.
Delay calling because you fear embarrassment or legal consequences.
Let them drive after waking up.
Assume the emergency is over because naloxone worked.

Signs of Alcohol Poisoning

Call 911 if someone who has been drinking:

Cannot be awakened
Is vomiting repeatedly
Has a seizure
Has slow or irregular breathing
Has blue, gray, pale, or clammy skin
Cannot sit or stand
Has a possible head injury
May have mixed alcohol with medication or drugs

Alcohol levels may continue rising after the person stops drinking.

Do not give coffee or place the person in a cold shower. These actions do not reverse alcohol poisoning.

Signs of a Stimulant Overdose

Stimulants may include cocaine, methamphetamine, or certain misused prescription medications.

Possible warning signs include:

Severe chest pain
Very fast or irregular heartbeat
Extreme agitation or panic
Severe confusion
Hallucinations
Very high body temperature
Heavy sweating
Severe headache
Seizure
Stroke symptoms
Collapse

Call 911. Move nearby objects away and reduce noise and stimulation. Do not argue with or physically restrain the person unless immediate danger makes intervention necessary.

If Cannabis May Be Involved

A severe cannabis reaction may cause:

Extreme confusion
Panic or paranoia
Hallucinations
Very fast heart rate
Chest pain
Repeated vomiting
Loss of coordination
Dangerous behavior
Seizure
Unconsciousness

Call Poison Control at 1-800-222-1222 for guidance. Call 911 for chest pain, difficulty breathing, seizures, unconsciousness, extreme agitation, or any life-threatening symptom.

Call Poison Control

For a possible poisoning when the person is awake, breathing normally, and not experiencing emergency symptoms, call Poison Control in the United States at:

1-800-222-1222

Poison Control can provide instructions based on the substance, amount, symptoms, age, and other circumstances.

Do not wait for symptoms before calling. Do not make someone vomit unless Poison Control or a medical professional specifically directs you to do so.

After the Emergency

An overdose can happen again, especially when:

Substance strength is unknown.
Multiple substances are combined.
The person uses alone.
Tolerance has decreased after a period of not using.
Counterfeit pills are involved.
Naloxone is not available.

After immediate medical care:

Replace any naloxone that was used.
Keep additional doses accessible.
Ask a healthcare professional about overdose prevention.
Avoid using substances alone.
Do not mix substances.
Consider treatment or recovery support.
Discuss a safety plan with trusted people.

For substance-use treatment referrals, visit FindTreatment.gov or call SAMHSA’s National Helpline at 1-800-662-HELP (4357).

For a substance-use or emotional crisis, call or text 988.

Quick Overdose Checklist

Call 911.
Check responsiveness and breathing.
Give naloxone when opioids may be involved.
Begin CPR or rescue breathing when needed.
Give another naloxone dose if the person does not respond.
Place a breathing, unconscious person on their side.
Stay with the person.
Save containers or packaging for responders.
Do not make the person vomit.
Do not let them sleep it off.
Get emergency care even if the person wakes up.

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Important Health & Safety Notice

The information in this guide is provided for general educational purposes only. Independence Answers is not a medical provider, and this content is not a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, treatment, or supervision. Always follow the instructions of your doctor, pharmacist, or other qualified healthcare professional, especially if you have a medical condition, take medication, or are unsure whether an action is safe for you.

Do not ignore or delay seeking professional care because of something you read here. If you believe someone may be experiencing a serious or life-threatening emergency, call 911 or your local emergency number immediately.