It can be difficult to prevent an opioid overdose because you may not know the potency of the substances you’re using. In a hospital setting, healthcare providers order several tests to check for any complications. They may perform other forms of medical care other than naloxone, such as intubation to help with breathing. While North America currently has the highest rate of opioid overdoses in the world, opioid overdose continues to be a global issue. If someone is not sure about the amount of antihistamine they took, a doctor may need to conduct a physical exam.

1. If they consume 100 mg/kg or less, they may be monitored at home.
2. Because you can’t use naloxone on yourself, let others know you have it in case you experience an opioid overdose.
3. If you or someone you know is at increased risk for opioid overdose, especially those struggling with opioid use disorder (OUD), you should carry naloxone and keep it at home.
4. When in doubt about the correct dosage, consult with a doctor or pharmacist.
5. The severity of a drug overdose depends on the drug, the amount taken, and the physical and medical history of the person who overdosed.

Participants will receive healthcare services (e.g., maternity care, medication-assisted treatment, medical services, mental health services) provided by team of specialists. It’s important to note that the effects of naloxone only work for 30 to 90 minutes, but after that time, a person can overdose again if opioids are still in their system. A person can also overdose within that timeframe if they have a substantially large amount of opioids in their system. That’s why it’s important to get help from emergency services and make sure they’re not alone even if they respond well to the first dose of naloxone. An opioid overdose occurs because the part of your brain that regulates breathing becomes overstimulated by opioids and opiates like heroin, fentanyl, hydrocodone (Vicodin®), morphine, codeine or oxycodone (OxyContin®).

How might I incorporate overdose education and opioid overdose reversal medication into my workplace?

If you have been prescribed high-dose opioids, talk to your doctor about co-prescribing naloxone. However, in most states, you can get naloxone at your local pharmacy without a prescription.1 You can also get naloxone from community-based naloxone programs and alcohol and accutane most syringe services programs. In nearly 40% of overdose deaths, someone else was present.4 Having naloxone available allows bystanders to help a fatal overdose and save lives. Avoid combining prescription medications with other substances, such as alcohol.

An opioid overdose can happen when a person takes too much of an opioid or a combination of opioids and other substances, such as alcohol, sedatives or stimulants. “Too much” varies from person to person depending on their opioid tolerance and the potency (strength) of the opioid they’re using. If you misuse drugs, quitting is the best way for you to prevent a drug overdose.

Call 911 or other local emergency services hotline

An adult should not take more than 3,200 mg of ibuprofen per day. If you or someone you know has taken more than the recommended dose, call your local poison center or your local emergency services. If people suspect themselves or someone they know is at risk of opioid misuse or an opioid overdose, they can talk with the healthcare professional who prescribed the opioid medication about any concerns. Law Enforcement Naloxone ToolkitToolkit for public safety officers provides basic information, resources, and guidance on using naloxone to treat opioid overdose. It includes resources to support establishing a naloxone program.

Increasing education on opioid overdose reversal medications

Mixing ibuprofen with alcohol can also increase your risk of having serious side effects, like stomach or intestinal bleeding. Read on to learn how to safely use this medication as well as the signs of an overdose. If someone notices any signs of an opioid overdose, they will need to call 911 immediately. According to the Food and Drug Administration (FDA), a person will usually return to consciousness 1–3 minutes after a dose of naloxone. Naloxone is a drug that works quickly to reverse the effects opioids have on the body.

If you can’t access a phone or computer, go to the nearest emergency room immediately. Some people who overdose on ibuprofen will not show symptoms right away. President Biden’s Unity Agenda focuses on issues on which all Americans can come together dealing with an alcoholic: how to cope and make progress for the Nation. The Biden-Harris Administration has worked to strengthen not only the whole-of-government response, but also the whole-of-society response to address this public health and public safety crisis head-on.

They also perform other tests to assess the health of the person and to look for possible complications. Anyone who uses opioids could potentially experience an opioid overdose. Overdoses can happen to people during their first time using opioids, to people who’ve taken them multiple times or to people who have opioid use disorder. Prescription opioids are involved in about 25% of all opioid overdose deaths. Nonprescription opioids account for about 75% of opioid overdose deaths. You should seek medical help immediately if you have these symptoms or witness them in someone else and suspect they may have overdosed.