Some people may have experience with coming to the brink of an overdose. For them and their families it was most likely a very scary time in their lives when things got out of control. But as we learn more about opioids, we have learned that we can prevent an opioid overdose. The important thing is to be educated and learn the steps about what you can do:
Know what opioids do.
These drugs block pain signals in the brain and they are powerfully good at their job. They can flood your brain and body with good feelings creating a desire to feel that feeling again and again. This desire can easily lead to an opioid addiction.
Understand why people might take too much of their prescription medicine.
Some might accidentally take more than they were supposed to by accident or might have taken more than prescribed to try to take the pain away. A person using opioids for a while may develop a tolerance causing them to need more of the opioid to get same effect.
Learn about the risks of using an opioid.
Being educated on the risks and dangers of opioids is important. While using opioids someone may develop a dependency, increase tolerance, or develop an opioid use disorder. Risks significantly increase for anyone who has used opioids for a long time, prescribed a high dosage, prescribed multiple different medications, or use alcohol and drugs.
Recognize the signs and symptoms of opioid misuse.
If a person has taken too much of an opioid, he or she might experience abnormal sleepiness, shallow breathing, slurred speech or confusion, clamminess, or a slowed heart rate. If someone displays signs of misuse or overdose call for emergency help immediately.
Recognize the signs and symptoms of an accidently opioid overdose. The signs of an overdose include:
- Face is clammy to touch and has lost color. Has trouble speaking. Center part of eye is very small, sometimes called “pinpoint pupils.”
- Body is limp. Fingernails and lips turning blue or purple.
- Appears to be in a deep sleep and cannot be woken. Will not respond voice commands or touch.
- Very Slow or irregular breathing or no breathing at all.
- Slow heartbeat and/or low blood pressure.
If you suspect someone has misused or accidentally overdosed on opioids, call 911 or your local emergency contact immediately.
If possible, administer Narcan (Naloxone) Nasal Spray immediately. Narcan Nasal Spray is used to reverse the life-threatening effects of opioid overdose. Naloxone does not require a prescription and can be administered by anyone in the case of an opioid overdose emergency.
If you live in the TCC region, contact the Division of Wellness & Prevention via phone or email to request FREE Narcan Kit OR Complete the TCC Narcan Request Form Survey online. A prevention staff will make contact to fulfill your request.