Dr. Goodman-Meza: The signs to recognize of an overdose are, the person will lose consciousness and will not be woken up by talking, yelling, or rubbing their chest.
Next, you may notice that their breath slows down and becomes very shallow. Each breath can become more than 10 seconds apart and progressively longer until they stop breathing altogether. With this, their fingers and lips may turn blue or ashy.
Dr. Goodman-Meza: First off, call 911. Most states in the U.S. have Good Samaritan laws, which means that you may be protected from prosecution even if you have drugs with you for personal use. These laws differ by state, so it is a good idea to check the specific laws in your state on websites such as SAFE Project.
If you have naloxone on hand, administer it now. If they’re having shallow breaths, you can provide a rescue breath. If they are not breathing, check for a pulse. And if they don’t have a pulse, start CPR and chest compressions.
If they don’t wake up after two minutes, administer a second dose of naloxone. Stay with the person until medical help arrives.
About Dr. Goodman-Meza: Dr. David Goodman-Meza is a Mexican-American physician and scientist focused on the intersection of infectious diseases and addiction. He is board certified in Internal Medicine, Infectious Diseases, and Addiction Medicine. Over his career, he has authored over 60 peer-reviewed publications along topics related to substance use disorders and infectious diseases.
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