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The Signs of Opioid Overdose

Opioids are a class of drugs that depress the central nervous system and relieve pain. Doctors prescribe some of them to manage the symptoms of moderate to severe pain. Prescription opioids include drugs like hydrocodone, oxycodone, morphine, and even fentanyl, while heroin is considered an illicit opioid.

Unfortunately, many people abuse opioids for their mind-altering effects. They cause a drowsy and euphoric high that can be incredibly addictive. Oftentimes, this leads to life-threatening overdoses.

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), opioids were responsible for 81,806 drug overdoses in 2022.[1]

Knowing the signs of opioid overdose will help you determine whether you or a loved one needs emergency medical attention. Additionally, it is important to learn how to respond to an opioid overdose using naloxone, an opioid reversal medication.

In this article, you will learn:

What are the signs and symptoms of opioid overdoses
How to prevent an opioid overdose
How to respond to an overdose

What are the Symptoms of an Opioid Overdose?

Opioid overdoses occur when you consume too much of an opioid at once. Unfortunately, it can be difficult to determine whether someone is really high on opioids or actually experiencing an overdose. This is why it is important to be aware of the signs.

Opioid overdose symptoms may include:[2]

Unresponsiveness and unconsciousness
Slowed or stopped breathing
Limp arms and legs
Choking or gurgling noises
Cold and clammy skin
Blue tint to the lips and fingernails

If someone you love is addicted to opioids, you should consider carrying naloxone. Naloxone is a medication that rapidly reverses an opioid overdose.[3] It works by blocking opioids from affecting receptors in your brain.

Having naloxone handy will reduce the risk of your loved one experiencing an overdose death. That said, you should still contact emergency medical services even if naloxone is successful. If your loved one took an extended-release opioid, they could end up overdosing once again, making it vital that they are under the care of a medical professional.

How to Prevent Opioid Overdoses

If you abuse opioids, you are at a high risk of experiencing an overdose. This is especially true as fentanyl is being used as an adulterant in many counterfeit pills sold on the street. Even a small amount of fentanyl can be fatal in some cases.

That said, there are some things you can do to reduce your risk of overdosing. Ways to prevent an opioid overdose include:[4]

Use smaller doses of opioids and do not take multiple doses at once
Never use opioids when you are alone and let someone know that you are going to consume them
Always carry naloxone with you
Space out your doses to prevent a compounded effect
When using opioids in a group, stagger your use. In other words, make sure at least one person is always alert enough to call 911 if necessary
Test your drugs to ensure they do not contain fentanyl or other dangerous adulterants
Listen to your body, as your overall health can impact your risk of overdosing. Stay hydrated, well-rested, and fed.
Use community-based programs that provide naloxone, clean needles, and resources for treatment.
Attend support groups or an addiction treatment center to achieve sobriety from opioid use disorder.

If you are a family member of a person who abuses opioids, you might want to consider getting them help. Sometimes, offering your loved one treatment motivates them to begin their sobriety journey. At the Mandala Healing Center, we provide evidence-based treatments for substance use disorders and treat the root causes rather than just the symptoms.

How to Respond to an Opioid Overdose

If you are unsure whether a person is overdosing, ask yourself the following questions:

Are they breathing?
Are they responding to stimuli?
Can the person speak?
What color is their skin, lips, and fingernails?

If the person is not breathing, is unable to speak, and has a blue tint to their lips and fingernails, they are experiencing an opioid overdose. You should contact 911 immediately.

While waiting for emergency medical services to arrive, there are several steps you can take. First, you should place the individual in the recovery position. Lay them on their side, bend one of their knees, turn their face to the side, and keep their airway clear to prevent choking.

Next, administer naloxone. The process for administering naloxone can differ depending on whether you have a nasal spray or an injectable. Either way, as an opioid antagonist, it should reverse the overdose.

If one dose of naloxone does not work, you can readminister every two minutes.

If you do not have naloxone or the person is not breathing, you should attempt rescue breathing or find someone in the area who is trained in CPR. To perform rescue breathing, you should:[5]

Place the person on their back
Tilt their chin up to open their airway
Check to see if there is anything in their mouth blocking their airway like gum or a toothpick and remove it.
Plug their nose with one hand and give 2 even and regular-sized breaths. You should see their chest rise as you are blowing in the air.
Give one breath every 5 seconds.

Once help has arrived, you should give the medical professionals all the information. If you know what drugs the person consumed, let them know. Tell them if you administered naloxone, performed rescue breathing, and any other relevant information.

Find Help for Opioid Abuse and Addiction

If you or a loved one suffers from opioid use disorder, it’s time to seek help. Treatment for opioid addiction involves a combination of medical detox, evidence-based therapies, and relapse prevention planning. At Mandala Healing Center, we use a compassionate and empathetic approach to treating opioid addiction.

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