Save a life
Know the signs and what to do for an opioid overdose
Opioid overdoses are preventable – and knowing what to look for can save a life. An overdose happens when someone takes too much of an opioid or mixes it with alcohol or other drugs. Opioids affect the part of the brain that controls breathing. In high amounts, they can cause breathing to stop entirely, leading to brain injury or death. But knowing how to recognize the signs and respond to an overdose can protect you, your loved ones, and your community.
An overdose can happen within minutes to several hours after using opioids. Here are the signs to look for:
- Breathing that is slow or shallow, or no breathing at all
- Very sleepy, or sleeping, and not responsive to your voice or touch
- A person with lighter skin might have skin that looks blue or grayish, with dark lips and fingernails. A person with darker skin might have gray or purple lips and skin, and bright white nail beds.
- Irregular snoring, choking, or gurgling sounds (known as “death rattle”)
Learn more about the signs of overdose.
Learn these five life-saving steps and encourage others to learn them, too:
- Check for overdose. Tap, shake, or shout at the person to get a response. If they don’t respond, rub your knuckles hard on their chest. If they still don’t respond, they are probably experiencing an overdose.
- Call 9-1-1. Tell the dispatcher the person isn’t breathing, and you think they’re having an overdose. Give your location and stay with the person until help arrives. Vermont’s Good Samaritan law protects both the person who overdoses and the people helping them from being prosecuted for possessing drugs or paraphernalia, giving naloxone, or violating restraining orders or probation.
- Give naloxone, if you have it. Naloxone is an overdose reversal spray – learn how to administer it. Be ready to give a second dose if the person does not wake up 3 minutes after getting the first dose.
- Give rescue breaths. Clear the person’s mouth, tilt their head back, lift their chin, and pinch their nose. Give 1 breath every 5 seconds. While naloxone can reverse an overdose, it doesn’t provide oxygen, and it is critical to keep the person’s brain and body alive until they start breathing on their own.
- Stay until help arrives. If the person is not breathing well, keep giving rescue breaths until help arrives. If they start breathing on their own, put them on their side. Do not leave them alone until emergency help arrives.
There are several easy and confidential ways for Vermonters to get naloxone:
- Programs that offer naloxone: You can get naloxone at no cost through statewide Overdose Prevention Packs, which include naloxone, treatment and recovery information, fentanyl & xylazine test strips, and self-care items. These sites carry Overdose Prevention Packs. You can also get naloxone through the Vermont Opioid Overdose Prevention and Reversal Project. These sites have naloxone and offer training on overdose prevention and response. They also offer training on overdose prevention and response. Additionally, emergency medical services (EMS) workers always carry naloxone, and some police officers carry it, too.
- Pharmacies: You can buy naloxone at any pharmacy without a doctor’s prescription, thanks to Vermont’s “standing order” that started in 2016. Insurance and Medicaid often cover the cost, so you may not need to pay out of pocket, though some copays may apply. A pharmacist can show you how to use naloxone right at the pharmacy.
- Naloxone Vending Machines: Vermont now has public vending machines that provide free naloxone alongside other health supplies. These vending machines were unveiled in 2023, and are currently in four towns: Johnson, Bennington, Middlebury, and Bristol.
- Mail-Order Kits: Since October 2023, anyone with a Vermont address can order a free naloxone kit and have it mailed right to their door. Kits include two doses of naloxone, fentanyl test strips, instructions for use, and treatment information. Delivery typically takes one week. Request a kit.