Opioid Overdose – What Can I Do?
What are opioids? Are they legal?
- They are medications that can help relieve pain such as codeine, oxycodone, hydromorphone, morphine, fentanyl, tramadol
- Legal opioids are prescribed by a health care professional (physician or nurse practitioner) and are most often used to treat pain
- Illegal opioids are any that are:
- Street drugs
- Given to you by someone else who is not your health care provider
- Stolen or taken from someone else
- obtained without a prescription or shared with someone else
What does an overdose look like?
- Opioids affect how the brain controls breathing
- Breathing is very slow, irregular or has stopped
- The pupils (centre part of eye) are very small, like a pinpoint
- Dizziness and confusion
- Person can’t be woken up or has difficulty staying awake
- Is making choking or gurgling sounds
- Slow or no heartbeat
How can I protect myself?
- Take your prescriptions as prescribed by your healthcare provider
- Know the signs of an overdose
- Don’t mix opioids with alcohol or other drugs (eg. sleeping pills, muscle relaxants, anxiety medications)
- Carry a naloxone kit – it’s free. We stock them and will show you how to use it so you can potentially save a life
- Don’t give away your medications – they are prescribed for you
- Take any unused or expired medications back to the pharmacy for proper disposal
Who is at risk of an opioid overdose?
- People who:
- are on high doses of opioids
- take opioids along with alcohol or other drugs than affect breathing, such as other painkillers, anxiety and sleeping medications
- use opioids without medical supervision
- use them after an extended period of abstinence
- have an opioid use disorder
- take opioids by injection
- take illegally obtained opioids
What should I do if I suspect someone has overdosed?
- Always call for help – call 9-1-1 and stay at the scene with the person
- Give Naloxone if you have it – you can get it for free at the pharmacy. We will show you how to use it. It’s easy
- Stay with the person. You might need to give another dose of naloxone if the first dose doesn’t work
- Know that the Good Samaritan Act protects you from simple drug possession charges
- Carry a naloxone kit if you or someone you know someone who takes opioids and replace it when it is expired
Call one of our pharmacists at the Bowmanville Clinic Pharmacy 905-623-7611. We’re here to help you
https://bowmanvilleclinicpharmacy.com
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/BowmanvilleClinicPharmacy
Instagram: http://www.instagram.com/bowmanvilleclinicpharmacy_