How to Recognize an Opioid Overdose: Signs to Watch For

An opioid overdose can look like extreme sleepiness at first, but a person who cannot be awakened or is not breathing normally needs emergency help. You do not need to identify the substance or be certain that an overdose occurred before calling 911.

Signs That Require Immediate Attention

Warning signs can include:

• The person does not respond to their name, touch, or attempts to wake them
• Breathing is unusually slow, irregular, or absent
• Choking, snoring, or gurgling sounds occur with little response
• The body is limp or unusually still
• Lips, fingertips, or skin appear gray, blue, or unusually pale

Not every person will show every sign. Other medical emergencies can look similar, so avoid trying to diagnose the situation yourself.

What to Do

Call 911 immediately and follow the dispatcher's instructions. If naloxone is available, administer it according to the specific product's directions. Stay with the person and continue following emergency-dispatch guidance until responders arrive.

Naloxone is temporary. A person who becomes responsive after receiving it still needs emergency evaluation because symptoms can return. Do not assume that waking up means the danger has passed.

Prepare Before an Emergency

Learning the package instructions in advance is easier than reading them during a crisis. Keep naloxone accessible, tell trusted people where it is, and replace expired supplies. Pharmacies and community organizations may offer product-specific training.

Our naloxone access guide explains where people in Virginia, Ohio, and Pennsylvania can begin looking. Availability and program rules can change, so confirm details directly with the pharmacy or organization before traveling.

Avoid Common Delays

People sometimes hesitate because they are unsure what was taken, fear being wrong, or hope the person will wake up. A suspected overdose is not the time to wait for certainty. Calling emergency services promptly gives professionals the opportunity to assess the situation.

Do not rely on walking the person around, putting them in a shower, giving food or drinks, or other home remedies. These steps can delay appropriate care or create additional danger.

Prevention Is Part of Recovery Support

Keeping naloxone nearby does not imply that someone expects a setback. It is a safety measure, much like keeping a fire extinguisher. Treatment, supportive relationships, and a plan for emergencies can all be part of reducing risk.

Grata Health provides telehealth care for opioid use disorder in Virginia, Ohio, and Pennsylvania. To explore non-emergency care, learn about medication-assisted treatment or request an appointment.

If you think an overdose is happening now, call 911 rather than contacting an online service.

Grata Health offers same-day telehealth appointments in Virginia, Ohio, and Pennsylvania and accepts most insurance plans. Specific benefits and eligibility vary by plan and individual circumstances.