Suspected opioid overdose
QUICK ANSWER · START HERE
Unresponsiveness with slow, abnormal or absent breathing may be an opioid overdose. Call the local emergency number, give naloxone according to the product instructions if available, and begin CPR with breaths if not breathing normally. Do not delay CPR or an AED for naloxone.
Trusted references.
Published references provide deeper context. The practical steps are below; outside references need a connection.
Act on immediate danger. Seek qualified help when reachable and safe, but do not make your first protective step depend on a response. This page is general guidance, not a live alert.
Do now.
- 01
Check scene and breathing
Avoid needles, powders and traffic hazards. Check responsiveness and normal breathing quickly; gasping or gurgling is not reassuring.
- 02
Request help and equipment
Send someone to call and bring naloxone and an AED when available. Share the exact location and breathing status.
- 03
Support breathing and circulation
If unresponsive and not breathing normally, start CPR with breaths if able and trained; use an AED promptly. Give compressions if breaths are not possible.
- 04
Use naloxone and observe
Follow the actual device instructions, including repeat dosing. Do not interrupt CPR to wait for a response. If normal breathing returns, place on their side as appropriate and keep monitoring.
PLAN AROUND WHAT YOU HAVE
If help is unavailable.
Give available naloxone and resuscitation promptly while a helper seeks care. Keep monitoring after improvement: opioids can outlast naloxone and breathing can worsen again. Stay until a capable person takes over or the scene becomes unsafe.
People & practical needs.
Keep naloxone accessible wherever overdose risk exists and learn how the supplied product works. Share emergency roles without stigma; the immediate objective is breathing and medical care. Keep children and bystanders away from needles and unverified substances.
Keep essentials within reach
Keep the action checklist and written contact details accessible. Use the equipment named in this guide only when available and appropriate. Assign someone to check access, batteries and expiry dates before an incident; retrieving a kit must not delay the immediate protective action.
Next steps.
Medical evaluation is still needed after naloxone. Note dose times and changes in breathing and give this information during handover.
They begin breathing normally
Continue monitoring, use a recovery position when appropriate and be prepared to restart CPR if normal breathing stops.
No naloxone available
Continue resuscitation and seek urgent care. Do not delay CPR while searching distant locations for medicine.
Questions in the field.
Does naloxone replace CPR?
No. CPR and AED use remain essential when the person is unresponsive and not breathing normally.
Watch for.
Do not let the person “sleep it off,” put them in a cold shower or give food or drink. Naloxone is not a substitute for breathing support or urgent care.
Sources & context.
First-aid summary based on U.S. references. Use the local emergency number; this is not a diagnosis or a substitute for hands-on training.
Osprey Zero combines source-based protective guidance with practical household planning. References provide context, not a promise of assistance. Some standards are U.S.-based; local risks, laws and services differ.
Content updated 2026-10-02. Sources checked 2026-10-02. Next editorial review due 2027-01-02. First-aid summaries support immediate response and training; they have not received independent clinical review.