Drug overdoses are most likely to occur when a person uses one or more depressant drugs (e.g. opioids, benzos or alcohol).
The most common symptoms of depressant overdose are:
- Loss of consciousness
- Slowed, shallow or stopped breathing
- Pale clammy skin and blue fingertips or lips
- Gurgling or snoring noises.
- Depressant overdoses can be fatal quickly, it is important to get help as soon as possible.
Overdoses: What do I do?
If you think a person is overdosing, it is important to act quickly. Here are some important steps to take:
- Call 111. Let them know you think someone is having a drug overdose and where you are
- Try to rouse the person. Speak loudly to them and give them a collarbone knock or sternum rub to try and wake them.
- Check if the person is breathing. If a person is not breathing give them CPR or rescue breaths.
- Give naloxone if you have it. Naloxone is an opioid overdose reversal drug. Administer it to the person if you have it, even if you aren’t sure whether they have taken opioids. Naloxone won’t hurt them.
You can tell the emergency call-taker you have naloxone, and they can talk you through what to do. - Evaluate. If the person starts breathing/regains consciousness, lie them on their side in the recovery position and monitor them.
If the person has not started breathing again, continue to give CPR/rescue breaths and administer another dose of naloxone - Stay with them. Stay with the person until help arrives. Speak to them in a calm voice and reassure them everything is going to be OK.