Know what’s up

A fentanyl overdose could happen anywhere. If someone you know starts showing signs of overdose, do you know what to do? Learn the signs, save a life.

Signs of a fentanyl overdose

Signs can be really subtle. A lot of times, someone who’s overdosing just looks like they’ve fallen asleep. It can be really easy to miss. That’s why it’s important to Check, Wake, and Breathe.

Check

Check on them—fentanyl overdoses often look like someone is asleep.

Wake

Try to wake them—see if they respond to calling their name or shaking them.

Breathe

Check their breathing for signs of struggle: choking, gurgling, or snoring.

When in doubt, call 911 immediately

How to help

If you can’t wake them up, or they aren’t breathing normally, take these steps and try to save a life.

1.

Call 911

If someone won’t wake up, call 911. You can’t get in trouble if you're trying to help someone.

2.

Give them naloxone

If naloxone is available, give it to them ASAP. Don’t wait. Every second counts.

3.

Start rescue breathing

If they still aren’t breathing normally, help them with rescue breathing until help arrives.

4.

Stay with them until help arrives

Watch for any changes until help arrives. You could provide the medical response team with helpful info.

Be prepared with naloxone

Naloxone (Narcan®) can reverse a fentanyl overdose on the spot but only if you carry and know how to use it. It’s available at your local pharmacy. You can find it in your state, often for free.

Sources
50% of illicit pills in this area contain fentanyl.
1. U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration. (n.d.). One pill can kill. 2. U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration. (2024, December 16). Overdose deaths decline, fentanyl threat looms.
A fentanyl overdose can be caused by a single pill.
3. U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration. (n.d.). Facts about fentanyl.
A fentanyl overdose only takes 3 minutes to become fatal.
4. Vahedi, H. S. M., Hajebi, H., Vahidi, E., Nejati, A., & Saeedi, M. (2019). Comparison between intravenous morphine versus fentanyl in acute pain relief in drug abusers with acute limb traumatic injury. World Journal of Emergency Medicine, 10(1), 27–32. 5. California Statewide Overdose Safety Workgroup. (2022, January). Responding to a fentanyl overdose: What California first responders need to know. California Department of Public Health. 6. Nevada County Health & Human Services Agency. (n.d.). Fentanyl and opioid overdose prevention. 7. Emery, E. (2023, January 10). Fentanyl overdose: What to do when someone overdoses and stops breathing. UCHealth Today.
There is some evidence suggesting an association between early adolescent cannabis use and long-term memory problems.
Willford JA, Goldschmidt L, De Genna NM, Day NL, Richardson GA. A longitudinal study of the impact of marijuana on adult memory function: Prenatal, adolescent, and young adult exposures. Neurotoxicol Teratol. 2021 Mar-Apr;84:106958. doi: 10.1016/j.ntt.2021.106958. Epub 2021 Jan 30. PMID: 33524507; PMCID: PMC7965351.
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Naloxone is not a substitute for emergency medical care. Administer naloxone in accordance with the manufacturer’s instructions. When administering naloxone nasal spray, always be sure to call 911 right away, even if the person wakes up. Keep the patient under surveillance or close watch. If breathing does not return to normal or if breathing difficulty resumes, after 2 or 3 minutes, give an additional dose of naloxone nasal spray using a new device in the alternate nostril. Repeat doses of naloxone may be necessary.NARCAN® is a registered trademark of EMERGENT OPERATIONS IRELAND LIMITED PRIVATE COMPANY.