Your Partner Overdosed and Is Unconscious: Act Right Now

What should you do — in this exact order?

1. Call 911 immediately. Give your address clearly and say someone is unconscious and may have overdosed. Stay on the line — the dispatcher will tell you what to do until paramedics arrive. 2. Roll them onto their side (recovery position). Tilt their head back slightly to open the airway, and bend the top knee forward to keep them from rolling. This prevents choking on vomit 2Ref 2Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) (2023).Overdose Prevention and Response Toolkit.Recovery position; calling 911 regardless of Good Samaritan law concerns; naloxone administration steps; staying with the person after administration. 3. Use naloxone (Narcan) now if you have it — if opioids might be involved, including heroin, fentanyl, prescription opioids, or pills of unknown origin. Administer as directed on the package. Naloxone is safe and will not harm them if opioids are not involved 3Ref 3Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (2024).5 Things to Know About Naloxone.Naloxone safety (no harm if opioids not involved); fentanyl contamination in street drugs making naloxone appropriate even when opioids uncertain; naloxone access at pharmacies without prescription. 4. Check if they are breathing. Watch for chest rise. If they have stopped breathing, tell the 911 dispatcher immediately and follow their CPR instructions 4Ref 4Kleinman ME, et al. (2025).Part 7: Adult Basic Life Support: 2025 American Heart Association Guidelines for Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation and Emergency Cardiovascular Care.CPR technique for an unresponsive overdose victim who has stopped breathing; 30 chest compressions followed by rescue breaths; role of CPR alongside naloxone in opioid overdose resuscitation. 5. Stay with them until paramedics arrive. If they wake up, keep them calm and still — a second wave of overdose can occur, especially with long-acting opioids or fentanyl 1Ref 1Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (2024).Reversing Opioid Overdoses with Lifesaving Naloxone.Naloxone as a safe, effective opioid overdose reversal agent; signs of overdose requiring naloxone; repeat dosing for fentanyl; pharmacy availability without prescription.

Do not leave them alone at any point. People who survive an initial overdose and appear to wake up can stop breathing again as the opioid's effects outlast the naloxone.

What signs confirm this is an overdose emergency?

Any of these in a person you cannot rouse is a medical emergency:

• Unconscious or unresponsive — cannot wake them by calling their name or rubbing knuckles firmly on their sternum
• Slow (fewer than 1 breath per 5 seconds), shallow, or stopped breathing
• Blue or gray color around the lips, fingernails, or face — cyanosis indicating oxygen deprivation
• Gurgling or snoring sounds from the throat (the 'death rattle')
• Pinpoint (very small) pupils even in dim light
• Pale, cold, or clammy skin

These are the recognized signs of opioid or sedative overdose 1Ref 1Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (2024).Reversing Opioid Overdoses with Lifesaving Naloxone.Naloxone as a safe, effective opioid overdose reversal agent; signs of overdose requiring naloxone; repeat dosing for fentanyl; pharmacy availability without prescription2Ref 2Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) (2023).Overdose Prevention and Response Toolkit.Recovery position; calling 911 regardless of Good Samaritan law concerns; naloxone administration steps; staying with the person after administration. The CDC reports that bystanders are present in more than one in three opioid overdoses — meaning people in exactly your position save lives every day by acting quickly.

What is naloxone and where do you get it?

Naloxone (brand name Narcan) is a medication that rapidly reverses opioid overdose by blocking opioid receptors. It comes as a nasal spray or an injectable. It is now available over the counter in all 50 states without a prescription 1Ref 1Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (2024).Reversing Opioid Overdoses with Lifesaving Naloxone.Naloxone as a safe, effective opioid overdose reversal agent; signs of overdose requiring naloxone; repeat dosing for fentanyl; pharmacy availability without prescription.

Naloxone is safe — giving it when opioids are not involved does not cause harm 3Ref 3Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (2024).5 Things to Know About Naloxone.Naloxone safety (no harm if opioids not involved); fentanyl contamination in street drugs making naloxone appropriate even when opioids uncertain; naloxone access at pharmacies without prescription. When in doubt, give it. With fentanyl — which is far more potent than heroin and is now found in many street drugs including stimulants and counterfeit pills — more than one dose may be needed. If there is no response within 2 to 3 minutes, give a second dose 1Ref 1Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (2024).Reversing Opioid Overdoses with Lifesaving Naloxone.Naloxone as a safe, effective opioid overdose reversal agent; signs of overdose requiring naloxone; repeat dosing for fentanyl; pharmacy availability without prescription3Ref 3Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (2024).5 Things to Know About Naloxone.Naloxone safety (no harm if opioids not involved); fentanyl contamination in street drugs making naloxone appropriate even when opioids uncertain; naloxone access at pharmacies without prescription.

Community-based programs, local health departments, and many pharmacies distribute naloxone. If you live in a home where opioids — prescription or otherwise — are present, having naloxone on hand before you need it is strongly recommended 2Ref 2Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) (2023).Overdose Prevention and Response Toolkit.Recovery position; calling 911 regardless of Good Samaritan law concerns; naloxone administration steps; staying with the person after administration.

What about calling 911 when drugs are involved — will you get in trouble?

In most US states, Good Samaritan laws protect people who call 911 to report an overdose from drug-related prosecution. Fear of legal consequences should not stop you from calling. The SAMHSA Overdose Prevention and Response Toolkit 2Ref 2Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) (2023).Overdose Prevention and Response Toolkit.Recovery position; calling 911 regardless of Good Samaritan law concerns; naloxone administration steps; staying with the person after administration specifically encourages bystanders to call 911 regardless of concerns about legal exposure. A person's life is not worth the risk of silence.

If you are unsure of the laws in your state, call anyway — the laws exist specifically because lawmakers recognized that fear of prosecution was costing lives.

What should you tell the paramedics when they arrive?

Show the emergency team any substances, pill bottles, or drug paraphernalia near the person. Tell them what you saw taken or found, approximately how much, and when — or how long ago you found them. Share any medical history you know — heart conditions, prior overdoses, current medications, allergies.

Tell them if you administered naloxone, how many doses, and when the first dose was given. This information directly guides their treatment decisions, including how much additional naloxone to use and for how long to monitor your partner 2Ref 2Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) (2023).Overdose Prevention and Response Toolkit.Recovery position; calling 911 regardless of Good Samaritan law concerns; naloxone administration steps; staying with the person after administration.