What to do in case of an opioid overdose

Help save someone's life:

• Know the signs of an opioid overdose
• Know how to use naloxone, a medication that can help reverse opioid overdoses

Iowa is facing a growing opioid problem, putting more people at risk of a fatal overdose every year.

Signs of an opioid overdose

Signs of an opioid overdose include:

• Skin getting pale and clammy.
• Lips and fingernails turning blue or gray.
• Slow, erratic breaths, or no pulse.
• Snoring or gurgling noises while asleep or nodding out.
• No response when you yell the person’s name or rub the middle of their chest with your knuckles.

What to do if you think someone is having an opioid overdose

• Don’t run – call 911! Iowa’s Good Samaritan Law protects you if you witness a drug overdose.
• Give the person naloxone. If there’s no reaction within three minutes, give a second dose of naloxone.
• Start rescue breathing or chest compressions, following 911 dispatcher instructions.
• After naloxone is given, stay with the person for at least three hours or until help arrives.

Learn how to use naloxone nasal spray

Naloxone is a prescription medication that can reverse an overdose that is caused by an opioid drug. When administered during an overdose, naloxone blocks the effects of opioids on the brain and restores breathing long enough for emergency medical services to arrive.

1. Peel back the package to remove the device.
2. Place the tip of the nozzle in either nostril until your fingers touch the bottom of the person’s nose.
3. Press the plunger firmly to release the dose into the person’s nose.
4. Move the person onto their side.
5. Repeat if there is no response within three minutes – give the second dose in other nostril.

Naloxone has no potential for abuse. 

If it is given to a person who is not experiencing an opioid overdose, side effects are rare. If naloxone is administered to a person who is experiencing an opioid overdose, it can produce withdrawal symptoms.

Naloxone does not reverse overdoses that are caused by non-opioid drugs.

Iowa's Good Samaritan Law

Iowa's Good Samaritan Law encourages those who witness a drug overdose to stay and call 911, rather than running out of fear of prosecution. 

Generally, overdose witnesses, defined as “overdose reporters” under the law, will not be arrested, charged or prosecuted for possession of a controlled substance, delivery of a controlled substance or possession of drug paraphernalia, and if the person makes a good faith effort to seek medical assistance for an overdose patient.

The Good Samaritan Law protects overdose reporters if they:

• Are the first person to seek medical assistance for the overdose victim
• Provide their contact information to emergency personnel
• Remain on the scene until assistance is provided
• Cooperate with emergency personnel

The Good Samaritan Law does not protect against arrest for open warrants and other crimes. Details regarding Iowa’s Good Samaritan Law are found under Iowa Code Section 124.418.

Help stop opioid overdoses

Now that you know what to do in case of an opioid overdose, tell your family and friends about naloxone and how to use naloxone. Be prepared to save a life.