YOU COULD SAVE A LIFE
Globally, around 150,000 people die due to drug overdose each year.
In 2023, 1,172 people in Scotland died from a drug overdose.
#StopTheDeaths
TOGETHER, WE CAN PREVENT DRUG DEATHS
STEP 1: YOU CAN RECOGNISE THE SIGNS OF AN OVERDOSE
UNRESPONSIVE
When someone is experiencing an overdose, they are unconscious and therefore completely unresponsive.
When you try to wake them by shaking their shoulders or shouting to them, an unresponsive person will not respond by speaking to you, opening their eyes or moving in any way.
This is different from being heavily under the influence of drugs where the person may be extremely drowsy, slurring their speech and unsteady in their movements.
SNORING
Snoring, or rasping breathing, is sometimes mistaken for a person being asleep. However, it can be a sign that the person is becoming more deeply unconscious, and their airway is being blocked or restricted.
BLUE LIPS
When someone is experiencing an overdose their lips, or fingertips, may turn blue due to the lack of oxygen in the blood.
SHALLOW BREATHING
When someone is experiencing an overdose, they can die because they cannot breathe due to drugs like opiates switching off vital signals to the lungs. Shallow breathing means their breaths can be reduced to 3-4 per minute instead of the usual 12-20 breaths. A person who has an overdose may stop breathing completely.
The lack of oxygen in the body can lead to brain injury if not treated quickly.
PALE SKIN
During an overdose the person’s skin may be pale or ashen and the person may also feel cold or sweaty to touch.
PINPOINT PUPILS
Pinpoint pupils usually indicate that the person has had an opiate overdose because these drugs make the pupils appear very small. Other drugs may dilate your pupils, making them bigger. So, the size of the pupils is not always a guide to what drugs the person may have overdosed on.
STEP 2: YOU CAN CALL 999
What to do if you find someone who may be experiencing an overdose
If you find someone who is unresponsive and has any signs of an overdose you should
Call 999 and follow the instructions of the call handler
Stay with the person until an ambulance arrives
STEP 3: YOU CAN ADMINISTER NALOXONE
NALOXONE
Naloxone is a medication that can reverse the effects of an opioid-related overdose. Opioids are drugs like codeine, morphine, tramadol, fentanyl, heroin and methadone.
A person may have multiple drugs in their body but reversing the effects of opioids with naloxone can be the difference between life and death. We should always suspect that opioids are involved since they are implicated in so many deaths (84% in Scotland). Naloxone buys a person time until an ambulance arrives, or they can be seen by a medical professional.
Anyone in Scotland who is likely to find someone experiencing an overdose in their family, their community, their workplace or in a public place can request a naloxone kit and be trained in its use.
TAKE OUR FREE E-LEARNING COURSE
To request your FREE supply of naloxone complete this FREE E-Learning
ORDER A FREE NALOXONE KIT
If you have completed naloxone training or e-learning you can order a free naloxone kit
-
FOR LOCAL DRUGS SERVICES
A directory of all drug services in Scotland is available at link below
-
Scottish Families affected by Alcohol and Drugs HELPLINE
If you are an affected family member you can get support at link below