An opioid overdose is a life-threatening medical emergency, but overdose deaths can be prevented. If you think an overdose may be occurring, it is important to act quickly to save a life and call 911 immediately.
How to Recognize an Opioid Overdose:
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- Slow or no breathing
- Small, constricted “pinpoint pupils”
- Deep snoring or gurgling sounds
- Unresponsiveness
- Pale, or clammy skin
- For lighter skinned people, skin tone turns bluish purple, for darker skinned people, it turns grayish or ashen
How to Respond to an Opioid Overdose:
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- Check for responsiveness
- Call 911 immediately
- Administer naloxone
- Provide rescue breathing
- Wait for help
Learn more about opioid addiction and overdose prevention:
Never Use Alone
1-877-696-1996
neverusealone.com
Toll-free national overdose prevention, detection, life-saving crisis response and medical intervention services for people who use drugs while alone.
Available 24-hours a day, 7 days a week, 365 days a year.
No stigma. No judgment.
Last Updated: February 10, 2025