Watching someone you love experience a suspected overdose is terrifying. You may feel panicked, confused, or afraid of doing the wrong thing—but taking immediate action could save their life.

An overdose is always a medical emergency. Call 911, administer naloxone if opioids may be involved, and stay with the person until emergency responders arrive.

How to Recognize a Possible Overdose

Not every overdose looks the same. Some symptoms appear suddenly, while others may initially look like extreme sleepiness or intoxication.

Possible warning signs include:

• Unresponsiveness or an inability to wake the person
• Slow, shallow, irregular, or stopped breathing
• Choking, gurgling, or unusual snoring sounds
• Blue, gray, pale, or discolored lips, fingertips, or skin
• A limp body
• Vomiting while unconscious
• Very small or pinpoint pupils
• Seizures
• Severe confusion, agitation, or loss of coordination
• An unusually slow, irregular, or difficult-to-detect pulse

If the person cannot be awakened or is not breathing normally, assume it is an overdose and act immediately. You do not need to know exactly which substance was taken before calling for help.

Step 1: Call 911 Immediately

Tell the dispatcher that the person is unresponsive or may have overdosed. Provide your exact location, describe the person’s breathing, and share any information you have about substances they may have taken.

Put your phone on speaker if possible so you can remain beside the person. Follow the dispatcher’s instructions carefully. The dispatcher may guide you through rescue breathing, CPR, naloxone administration, or safely positioning the person.

Do not delay calling because you are worried that the person may be angry or because you are afraid of possible legal consequences. Good Samaritan laws in many states provide some legal protections for people seeking emergency assistance during an overdose, although the exact protections differ by state.

Step 2: Give Naloxone If Opioids May Be Involved

Naloxone—commonly sold under the brand name Narcan—can temporarily reverse an overdose caused by opioids such as fentanyl, heroin, oxycodone, hydrocodone, codeine, and morphine.

If naloxone is available:

1. Administer the first dose immediately according to the package directions.
2. Call 911 if someone has not already done so.
3. Continue following the dispatcher’s instructions.
4. If the person does not respond within two to three minutes, administer another dose if one is available.
5. Stay with the person until emergency responders arrive.

Strong opioids such as fentanyl may require more than one dose. Naloxone generally will not harm someone if opioids are not causing the medical emergency, so do not hesitate to use it when an opioid overdose is suspected.

Naloxone is only a temporary treatment. A person can become unresponsive again after initially waking up, which is why emergency medical assistance is still necessary.

Step 3: Help Keep the Person Breathing

If the person is breathing but unconscious, place them on their side with their face angled toward the floor. This recovery position helps keep the airway open and reduces the risk of choking if they vomit.

If the person is not breathing normally, begin rescue breathing or CPR if you know how. If you are unsure, the 911 dispatcher can guide you through the appropriate steps.

While waiting for emergency responders:

• Remain with the person.
• Continue checking their breathing.
• Keep the area around them clear.
• Give additional naloxone when directed or according to the product instructions.
• Tell responders what substances may have been taken and approximately when.
• Give any medication bottles, drug containers, or packaging to responders if it is safe to do so.

What Happens After Naloxone Is Given?

A person may wake up confused, frightened, sick, or agitated. Opioid withdrawal can begin suddenly after naloxone and may cause nausea, vomiting, sweating, body aches, anxiety, or intense discomfort.

Stay calm and explain what happened. Do not let the person use more opioids in an attempt to relieve withdrawal symptoms. Using again after receiving naloxone can cause another overdose.

Encourage the person to remain until emergency responders arrive and accept medical evaluation. Even if they say they feel fine, the effects of the overdose can return after the naloxone begins wearing off.

Talking About Treatment After an Overdose

Surviving an overdose can create an opportunity to discuss treatment, but that conversation should happen only after the immediate medical danger has been addressed.

Approach your loved one with concern rather than blame. You might say:

• “I was terrified I was going to lose you.”
• “I’m glad you’re alive, and I want to help you.”
• “We can look at treatment options together.”
• “You don’t have to figure this out alone.”
• “Can we talk with someone about what happens next?”

Avoid lecturing, threatening, or demanding an immediate promise of lifelong sobriety. The immediate goal is to help the person remain safe and take the next reasonable step toward treatment.

Finding Detox or Addiction Treatment

The appropriate next step depends on the substances involved, withdrawal risks, physical and mental health needs, previous treatment history, insurance coverage, program availability, and the person’s willingness to enter care.

Treatment options may include:

• Medically supervised detoxification
• Inpatient or residential rehabilitation
• Medication treatment for opioid use disorder
• Dual-diagnosis treatment
• Outpatient treatment
• Counseling and peer-recovery support

For opioid use disorder, medications such as buprenorphine, methadone, and naltrexone may be included as part of treatment. A qualified medical or treatment professional can help determine which options may be appropriate.

After the person is medically stable, Addiction No More can help you explore available treatment programs and ask questions about admissions, insurance coverage, location, and levels of care. Availability, acceptance, transportation, costs, and insurance benefits are determined by the treatment provider and insurance company.

What If Your Loved One Refuses Treatment?

Some people decline treatment even after surviving an overdose. Fear, withdrawal, shame, previous treatment experiences, and the effects of addiction can all influence that decision.

If your loved one refuses help:

• Remain calm and avoid turning the conversation into an argument.
• Ask whether they would speak with a doctor or addiction professional.
• Offer help with one immediate step instead of demanding a long-term commitment.
• Keep naloxone accessible and make sure others know where it is.
• Learn about treatment and harm-reduction resources in your community.
• Establish reasonable boundaries to protect yourself and other family members.

You cannot force another adult to accept recovery, but you can remain prepared, offer practical assistance, and seek professional guidance for your family.

You Do Not Have to Handle This Alone

Witnessing an overdose can be traumatic. Family members may experience anxiety, anger, guilt, sleeplessness, or fear that it will happen again. Those reactions are understandable.

You did not cause your loved one’s addiction, and you cannot manage it entirely by yourself. Support is available for both people experiencing substance use disorders and the families who care about them.

Recovery remains possible after an overdose. The most important priorities are acting quickly during the emergency, keeping the person alive, and helping them connect with appropriate medical care and treatment afterward.

Trusted Overdose Resources

• CDC: What to Do If You Think Someone Is Overdosing
• CDC: Lifesaving Naloxone Information
• FDA: Access to Naloxone Can Save a Life

Disclaimer: This article is provided for general educational purposes and is not a substitute for emergency medical care, diagnosis, or treatment. Addiction No More is an information and referral service and is not a treatment facility or medical provider. In an emergency, call 911.