Education
- Educate yourself on substance abuse use disorder and the terms most associated with the disease
- Drug overdose is the result of taking too much of a substance, whether it is prescribed, over the counter, legal, or illegal
- Overdose can be accidental or intentional
- Harmful effect on your body’s ability to function
- Drug overdose is the result of taking too much of a substance, whether it is prescribed, over the counter, legal, or illegal
- Ways to avoid an overdose
- Take medications as prescribed by your practitioner
- Do not take more medication or take it more often than instructed
- Never mix pain medicines with alcohol, sleeping pills, or illicit substances
- Never take anyone else’s medication
- Prevent children and pets from accidental ingestion by storing your medication out of reach
- Dispose of unused medication safely
- Ways to recognize an overdose (call 911 immediately if a person exhibits ANY of the following signs
- Their face is extremely pale and/or feels clammy to the touch
- Their body goes limp
- Their fingernails or lips have a purple or blue color
- They start vomiting or making gurgling noises
- They cannot be awakened or are unable to speak
- Their breathing or heartbeat slows or stops
- Ways to treat an overdose
- CALL 911
- If a person has stopped breathing or if breathing is very weak begin CPR
- If available administer naloxone