An overdose can occur when an individual misunderstands the directions for use, takes an extra dose, or deliberately misuses or abuses a prescription opioid medication or an illegal opioid such as heroin. An overdose can take minutes or even hours to occur.
Risk Factors for an Opioid Overdose
- Tolerance: Using any opioid over a period of time can build up tolerance. That tolerance can decrease rapidly when someone stops using an opioid. Restarting at the same dose puts people at risk for an overdose.
- Physical health: People with asthma or other breathing problems are at a high risk for overdose, because opioids impair breathing. People with liver and/or kidney problems, or who are HIV positive, also are at increased risk.
- Previous overdose: A person who has survived an overdose has an increased risk of fatal overdose in the future.
- Mixing drugs: Many overdoses occur when opioids are mixed with alcohol, anti-anxiety medicines, or other substances. Use this table to keep track of your medications and supplements (PDF) and share this information with your health care provider.
How to Respond to an Opioid Overdose
1. Identify an overdose
Signs of an overdose include:
- Extreme sleepiness, inability to wake verbally or upon rub of knuckles on the middle of their chest
- Snoring or gurgling noises while asleep or nodding off
- Slow, shallow, or no breathing
- Vomiting
- Clammy face
- Extremely small "pinpoint" pupils
2. Call 911
Indicate if the overdose victim has stopped or slowed breathing. Individuals who seek medical attention for someone who has overdosed are protected under Wisconsin law from arrest for possessing drugs or drug paraphernalia.
3. Open airway and give rescue breaths
- If the overdose victim is not breathing, open the airway.
- Remove any objects from the victim’s mouth.
- If breathing has stopped or slowed, start rescue breathing: tilt head back, lift chin, pinch nose with other hand, give one breath every five seconds. Continue this for 30 seconds.
- If the overdose victim is still not breathing on own, give naloxone.
4. Give naloxone
- How to Give Naloxone and How to Respond to an Overdose, P-01576 (PDF)
- Continue rescue breaths.
- Give naloxone again after 2-3 minutes if there is still no response.
- More than one dose is sometimes needed.
5. Place individual in recovery position
Once the overdose victim is breathing again, put the person on their side with the top leg and arm crossed over the body to prevent choking.
6. Stay until help arrives
Stay with the overdose victim until emergency responders arrive.
Reverse an Opioid Overdose with Naloxone
Naloxone is a medication that can reverse an opioid overdose. It can be given as an injection or as a nasal spray. It is available in Wisconsin without a prescription.
