Overdose: How Does it Happen and How Can I Help?

An overdose occurs when a person’s body has a harmful reaction to taking too much or a combination of drugs. You can overdose on your over-the-counter medications, such as cough medicine or laxatives, but the most dangerous is opioid overdoses.

An opioid overdose slows a person’s breathing to dangerous levels, which can cause brain damage, and in some cases, death. It is hard to know when someone is overdosing on opioids because it can appear as though they are sleeping.

Some risk factors of opioid overdose are:

• Dependence on opioids
• Chronic health conditions such as obesity or sleep apnea
• Alcohol use
• Using other drugs
• Taking more than the prescribed dose
• Using opioid medication that was not prescribed for you
• Using street drugs where the actual content of the drug is not known

“The Good Samaritan Law grants immunity for a minor drug possession or drug paraphernalia offense for the person who overdosed AND the person who called 911 to seek help.” - Ohio.gov

What do I do if someone overdoses?

1. Check for signs of an overdose. They may have overdosed if they are unresponsive, show difficulty breathing, or have a slow heart rate.
2. Call 911
3. Follow dispatcher instructions
4. Give Naloxone/Narcan if you have it
5. Stay with the person until help arrives. If they are unresponsive, lay them on their side.

Where do I get Narcan/Naloxone?

For residents of Erie County, you can go to the Erie County Health Department. The health department recommends that you consider carrying naloxone if:

• You, a friend, or a family member have a prescription for opioid pain medication.
• You, a friend, or a family member misuse opioid pain medications or use opioid pain medications that are not prescribed to you/them.
• You, a friend, or a family member have a history of using any substances.

Prevention: How can we work to avoid overdoses?

Prevention efforts are important at every level to reduce overdoses from happening. State and federal monitoring systems, such as the Ohio Automated Rx Reporting System (OARRS), have developed statewide databases for prescribers and pharmacists to track and report the dispensing and prescribing of controlled substances of opioids.

This helps prescribers and pharmacists avoid potentially life-threatening drug interactions and avoid over-prescribing any medication, such as opioids.

Insurance companies utilize formulary management strategies such as prior authorization, limits on the amount that can be given, and reviewing the frequency of prescriptions.

Prescribers receive ongoing education and training on guidelines, risks, and best patient practices involving opioid prescriptions. They also assist patients in managing their pain through other means.

What can I do to prevent an opioid overdose from happening?

• Talk to your prescriber or pharmacist about the safe handling and safe storage of medications
• Request additional patient education information from your prescriber or pharmacists, or check to see if your insurance company offers a nursing line that provides similar educational resources
• Ask your prescriber for recommendations on alternative ways to manage your pain
• Follow all dosing instructions and warning labels as marked on your medication bottles
• Avoid requesting refills or additional prescriptions from more than one prescriber
• Never mix opioid medications with alcohol or other medications that slow breathing or heart rate, such as benzodiazepines
• Always monitor medications and keep them secured if you have concerns for anyone in your home, being sure to keep all medications away from kids or teens
• Only take medications prescribed for you for a current medical issue
• Never share prescriptions with others
• Properly dispose of any leftover or unused opioids through the Firelands Medication Collection Kiosk or through programs like Drug Take Back Boxes or drug deactivating systems
• Be honest with your prescribers about your use of opioids and seek counseling treatment if you feel you need help cutting back or stopping opioid use by contacting The Firelands HOPE line at (567)-867-HOPE which is available from 8 a.m. - midnight every day or call 988 which is available 24/7