Opioid Overdose Signs, Symptoms, and What to Do

Opioid overdose and opioid addiction are significant risks for anyone who uses or misuses opioids. Most overdose deaths involving opioids in recent years have been due to illicit fentanyl. This highly potent, synthetic opioid is often laced into other drugs and taken unintentionally. It is also intentionally abused on its own.^1,2

If you use opioids or know someone who does, this article will help you understand what an opioid overdose is, signs of opioid overdose, what to do if someone is overdosing, what Narcan is and where to get it, and how to find opioid addiction treatment near you.

Opioid Overdose

An opioid overdose occurs when someone takes enough of an opioid to overwhelm their body and cause potentially life-threatening effects. Taking too much of an opioid can significantly impact the proper functioning of a person’s brain and other organs, especially their breathing. One of the key dangers of opioid overdose is respiratory depression (i.e., dangerously slowed or stopped breathing), which can lead to death.¹

An overdose can occur when a person:³

• Takes too much of an illicit opioid, like heroin.
• Takes too much of a prescription opioid, like oxycodone.
• Accidentally takes an extra dose of a prescription opioid.
• Purposely misuses a prescription opioid.
• Combines their prescription with alcohol or other drugs, especially anxiety medications such as valium or Xanax.
• Takes an illicit drug (cocaine or illicit prescription) that is unknowingly laced with fentanyl.
• Uses someone else’s medication.

According to the National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA), opioid-involved overdose deaths in the U.S. rose significantly from 49,860 in 2019 to 81,806 in 2022.⁴

Opioid Overdose Symptoms & Signs

Being able to understand and recognize the signs of an opioid overdose can potentially save someone’s life.¹

The signs of an opioid overdose are similar for all opioids. Opioid overdose symptoms commonly include:¹

• Unconsciousness or inability to awaken.
• Slow or shallow breathing or difficulty breathing that may sound like choking or a gurgling.
• Fingernails or lips that turn blue or purple. People with pale complexions may turn bluish-purple, while people with darker complexions may turn grayish or ashen.
• Pinpointed pupils or pupils that don’t react to light.

What to Do in Case of an Opioid Overdose?

If an overdose occurs and you’re not sure what to do, call 911. Then, follow these steps:¹

1. Administer naloxone.
2. Call 911.
3. Provide rescue breaths. If you don’t know how to do this, follow the 911 operator’s directions.
4. Support the person’s breathing by placing them in the recovery position on their side with their top leg bent for support.
5. Stay with the person until medical help arrives.

Narcan for Overdose

Narcan, a brand name for naloxone, is an FDA-approved medication that can quickly restore a person’s breathing and save their life. Naloxone works by attaching to opioid receptors, which reverses and blocks opioid effects. In addition to Narcan, naloxone comes in other formulations and brand names, such as Kloxxado, RiVive, and Zimhi.^1,5

Naloxone should be administered as soon as possible if someone is overdosing. However, people who have received naloxone still require medical attention, as its effects can wear off within 30–90 minutes and overdose symptoms may re-emerge.¹

Where to Get Naloxone (Narcan)

People can get Narcan in Rhode Island:⁶

• At pharmacies with a prescription, and the cost should be covered by most health insurance plans.
• For free from community-based harm reduction organizations.
• Over-the-counter, but people will need to pay out of pocket.

People who view a short training on the PreventOverdoseRI website can also request a free delivery of naloxone to their house.

People can get naloxone in Massachusetts:⁷

With a prescription from their doctors and have it filled at a pharmacy, where the cost should be covered by most health insurance plans. People will need to pay for it themselves if they do not have insurance.

Without a prescription by asking their pharmacy for a naloxone kit, where the cost may be covered by their health plan, but they may need to pay a co-pay, or they may need to pay out of pocket if they don’t have insurance.

Off the shelves in stores or pharmacies, but this will not be covered by insurance and people will need to pay out of pocket.

NextDistro, a mail-based harm reduction service, also has an online naloxone locator on their website, where people can view no-cost naloxone distribution programs in Massachusetts or order the medication via mail.

Opioid Addiction Treatment Near Massachusetts

Evidence-based, professional treatment can help prevent opioid overdose by addressing the underlying issues that contribute to addiction. Treatment may include a combination of behavioral therapies and medications that can help block the effects of opioids, alleviate cravings, reduce the risk of overdose, and help people remain in treatment.^1,8

AdCare, an inpatient drug rehab in Rhode Island, is American Addiction Center’s only facility that has a licensed methadone program.

We offer standard evidence-based protocols for opioid addiction treatment, including detox, as well as a unique set of enhanced medication for addiction treatment (MAT) protocols that may include the use of methadone, buprenorphine, and Suboxone (a buprenorphine/naloxone combo).

Medication is generally used alongside behavioral therapies, such as motivational enhancement therapy (MET), cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT), psychoeducational groups, and 12-Step meetings, to help optimize each person’s chances of treatment success.

If you or a loved one is struggling, we are here to help. Please call us at to speak with one of our caring admissions navigators about your treatment options and ask any questions you may have about the rehab process.

You can also learn more about rehab admissions and insurance coverage for addiction treatment. No matter how things might seem right now, there is always hope.