Opioid What Does an Overdose Look Like? 

Opioid are respiratory depressants and during an overdose, people die when they stop breathing.
Some signs that someone is overdosing on an opioid are:

• Skin looks blue, purple, or ashy
  
• The person is breathing very slowly, or not at all. When they are taking breaths, the breath may sound uneven or like gurgling or a deep snore
  
• They are unresponsive and you can't  wake them up
• Pinpoint pupils

The only thing naloxone does is temporarily block the effects of opioids. If you're not sure if someone is actually overdosing or not, treat them as if they are - it's better to be safe than sorry, and naloxone won't hurt anyone who hasn't taken opioids. 

What Should You Do During an Opioid Overdose?

1. Try to wake the person up. Call their name or make a loud noise. You can press the nail bed of their fingers - this is uncomfortable but won't hurt them. 
2. Call 911 to get an ambulance on the way.
3. Give naloxone (more on this below).
4. Give rescue breathing (more on this below).
5. If the person is still not awake after 3-5 minutes, give more naloxone.
6. Keep giving rescue breaths until help arrives or the person wakes up.

​How to Use Naloxone

How to Give Rescue Breathing