In an opioid overdose, every minute matters.
An opioid overdose can happen anywhere.
At home. In a parking lot. At work. Even if you don’t know anyone who uses opioids, it’s possible you’ll someday find yourself in a position to help.
That’s why carrying naloxone, commonly known by the brand name Narcan, has become as important as knowing CPR.
Naloxone is a medication that can rapidly reverse an opioid overdose. It works by blocking opioids from attaching to receptors in the brain, allowing a person to begin breathing again. It has no effect on someone who hasn’t taken opioids, making it safe to administer if you’re unsure what caused the emergency.
Recognizing an overdose
Someone experiencing an opioid overdose may:
- Be unconscious or unable to wake up.
- Breathe very slowly, irregularly, or stop breathing altogether.
- Have blue, gray, or pale lips and fingertips.
- Make choking, snoring, or gurgling sounds.
- Have pinpoint pupils.
If you suspect an overdose, don’t wait. Treat it as an emergency.
How to use naloxone nasal spray
- Call 911 immediately. Tell the dispatcher you believe someone is experiencing an overdose.
- Lay the person on their back.
- Remove the naloxone device from the package. Do not test or prime it.
- Insert the tip into one nostril until your fingers touch the bottom of the nose.
- Press the plunger firmly to release the entire dose.
- Move the person onto their side into the recovery position if possible.
- Watch for a response. If they do not begin breathing normally or wake within two to three minutes, administer a second dose using a new device in the opposite nostril.
Stay with the person until emergency responders arrive.
What happens next?
Naloxone usually begins working within a few minutes, but its effects are temporary. Because many opioids remain in the body longer than naloxone does, it’s possible for someone to stop breathing again after the medication wears off.
That’s why calling 911 is always essential, even if the person seems fully awake.
Someone revived with naloxone may wake up confused, frightened, or experiencing withdrawal symptoms. Stay calm, explain what happened, and encourage them to remain until medical professionals arrive.
Recovery starts with another chance
Naloxone doesn’t treat addiction.
It creates an opportunity.
An overdose that ends in tragedy leaves no chance for recovery. An overdose reversed with naloxone gives someone another opportunity to seek help, reconnect with loved ones, and begin rebuilding their life.
At Welcome House, we believe recovery is possible. Sometimes that journey begins with one conversation. Sometimes it begins with one decision.
And sometimes, it begins because someone nearby knew how to reverse an overdose.