Empathy and Naloxone Can Save Our Loved Ones from Opioid Overdose
On Overdose Awareness Day, start carrying naloxone. It could save a life.
2,264 people died from overdose in Washington during 2021.
The people who died are our spouses, children, parents, siblings, coworkers, neighbors, and friends.
Each year, August 31 marks International Overdose Awareness Day (IOAD). It’s a day to remember those we’ve lost to overdose around the world and acknowledge the grief of the family and friends left behind.
This day gives all of us the opportunity to commit to preventing future overdose deaths. This means examining our own prejudices, systems, resources, and supports to ensure that every person in our great state can access lifesaving tools during an overdose.
Here are 3 Things Every Person Can do to Help Prevent Overdose
#1 Lead with empathy.
Substance use disorder is complex and requires care, connection, and community for recovery. Leading with empathy means setting aside fear, confusion, frustration, or anger toward a person who is experiencing substance use disorder. By showing empathy, we can empower people to carry naloxone, seek resources for support, and connect with loved ones and peers to help them recover.
#2 Be Prepared: Learn the signs of overdose and carry naloxone.
Naloxone (also known by the brand name Narcan) is a medication that blocks the effects of opioids and can restore breathing in minutes, reversing opioid overdoses. This includes overdoses caused by fentanyl. Naloxone is available as an injection or a nasal spray, which are easy to use. Anyone can administer naloxone — you do not need special training.
You can’t hurt someone by giving them naloxone if they don’t need it, and naloxone is safe to give to everyone, including children and pets.
🔷 Call 911 immediately if a person exhibits ANY of the following opioid overdose symptoms:
- The person can’t wake up, even when you call their name or shake them firmly.
- The person is not breathing normally, or has slow or labored breathing. Normal breathing is a full breath every 3–5 seconds.
- They are cold or clammy when you touch their skin.
- The color of their skin, lips and fingernails is pale, blue, or gray.
🔷If you think someone is overdosing:
◾ Call 911. If the person is unresponsive, not breathing, or turning blue or gray, call 911 right away.
◾ Give naloxone. Give them one dose of naloxone every two or three minutes until their breathing returns to normal (one breath every 3–5 seconds).
- Watch and learn how to respond to an opioid overdose and administer naloxone (nasal spray and intramuscular injection).
- It is safe to give naloxone to someone, even if you aren’t sure they took opioids.
◾ Give rescue breaths if you know how. After you give the first dose of naloxone lay the person flat on the ground, tilt their chin upwards to open the airway, and provide one rescue breath every 5 seconds.
- Make sure you see the person’s chest rise and fall when giving rescue breaths.
- Chest compressions are not needed as long as the person has a pulse. If the person does not have a pulse, start chest compressions and use an automated external defibrillator (AED).
- If you do not know how to give rescue breaths, start chest compressions immediately, as 911 directs, to move air into the lungs and stimulate blood flow.
◾ Stay with the person until emergency help arrives. When the person wakes up from the overdose, they may not feel well and can potentially be confused. They should get medical attention and not take any more substances.
- Naloxone wears off within 30–90 minutes. It is possible for the person to go back into the overdose once the naloxone wears off.
- It is important to call 911. If that is not possible, stay with the person in case the naloxone wears off, they overdose again, and more naloxone is needed.
#3 Talk to your loved ones about substance use disorder.
With more fentanyl in the drug supply, opioid overdose and deaths have risen dramatically in recent years. Talking to your loved ones regularly about substance use — even if you don’t know if they are using — can help:
- Empower people who experience substance use disorder to seek help.
- Encourage young people to ask questions and learn about potential risks associated with substance use.
- Reduce community stigma around substance use disorder.
Research even shows that teens who had access to naloxone were less likely to use opioids.
Recovering from substance use takes time and support. Providing people who use opioids support that reduces harm, like access to naloxone, can help them stay alive and move toward health and wellness.
More Resources
- Safety First: Real Drug Education for Teens — Drug Policy Alliance
- National Harm Reduction’s Toolkit for Communities of Faith Facing Overdose
- Supporting Parents and Infants Affected by Substance Use
- The Washington Recovery Help Line
- Get naloxone delivered for free
- Find Naloxone Near You | Stopoverdose.org
- neverusealone.com/#about
