Heroin Overdose Signs and Symptoms

A Heroin overdose is fatal when you fail to address it immediately. You should be prepared to deal with an overdose episode should a loved one or close relative abuse heroin. Taking the necessary steps or action goes a long way in increasing the person’s chances of survival and the victim’s safety.

Firstly, call 911 in response to a heroin overdose and provide the victims:

• Estimated amount of heroin ingested.

• Estimated time of ingestion.

• Respiratory status (e.g., “Victim is not breathing”).

• Address.

Though most people may be afraid to report a heroin overdose because the drug is illegal, most state laws protect you from arrest if you seek emergency help for an overdose, so do not hesitate to seek help for a loved one.

Secondly, pay close attention to the victim and possibly call for an intervention:

• Check breathing; provide rescue breathing when the victim is not breathing; however, ensure you know how to administer rescue breathing. Do the same when you notice the “death rattle”- medical professionals refer to the death rattle as a distinct labored sound coming from a victim’s throat.

• Administer naloxone; naloxone is an antagonist to opioids and reverses the effects of opioids in the body. However, you must have the naloxone on hand and know how to administer it.

Please continue providing supportive breathing when the victim shows severe labored breathing or cannot breathe on their own. When the victim begins to live independently, please monitor them until help arrives.

It is crucial to get emergency help quickly because naloxone usually works for 30 to 90 minutes. Get help even if the person revives or overdose symptoms alleviate because overdose symptoms can return as soon as naloxone wears off.