How to Respond to a Suspected Overdose While Waiting for Help

When someone overdoses, every second counts. You might be the only person between them and death. It doesn’t matter if you’re a friend, a family member, or a stranger on the street-what you do in the next few minutes can save a life. You don’t need to be a doctor. You don’t need to know every drug on the street. You just need to know what to do right now.

Check for Responsiveness and Breathing

The first thing you do is check if the person is responsive. Don’t shake them or yell in their face. That delays help. Instead, tap their shoulder firmly and shout, “Are you okay?” If there’s no response, check their breathing immediately. Look at their chest. Listen near their mouth. Feel for air on your cheek. You have 10 seconds to decide.

Here’s what to watch for: normal breathing means steady, quiet breaths. Gasping, snoring, or irregular breaths? That’s not breathing. That’s a sign of overdose. Many people mistake gasping for normal breathing. It’s not. It’s the body fighting for air. If they’re not breathing normally-or not breathing at all-move to the next step immediately.

Call for Emergency Help

Call 911 or your local emergency number. Don’t wait. Don’t think, “Maybe they’ll wake up.” Don’t assume someone else has already called. Do it yourself. Tell the operator: “Someone has overdosed. They’re not breathing.” Give your location clearly. If you’re in Melbourne, say “South Melbourne, near the train station” instead of just “near here.”

Stay on the line. The dispatcher will guide you through what to do next. They’ve heard this before. They know what to say. Don’t hang up until they tell you to. Even if you think you’ve got this under control, EMS still needs to come. The brain can start dying after four minutes without oxygen. Emergency responders can reverse what you can’t.

Give Rescue Breaths

If they’re not breathing, start rescue breathing. Tilt their head back slightly and lift their chin. This opens the airway. Pinch their nose shut. Seal your mouth over theirs. Give one breath every 5 to 6 seconds-about 10 to 12 breaths per minute. Each breath should last about one second and make their chest rise. Don’t blow too hard. You’re not trying to inflate their stomach. If their belly swells, you’re doing it wrong.

Keep going. Even if you’re tired. Even if you’re scared. Keep giving breaths until they start breathing on their own or help arrives. Studies show that rescue breathing alone can keep someone alive long enough for naloxone or EMS to arrive. In opioid overdoses, the heart often keeps beating-but the lungs stop. Breathing for them gives their body time.

Use Naloxone If Available

If you have naloxone, use it. Naloxone reverses opioid overdoses-heroin, fentanyl, oxycodone, morphine. It doesn’t work on alcohol, benzodiazepines, cocaine, or meth. But if you’re not sure what they took, give it anyway. Most overdoses today involve opioids, even if other drugs are mixed in.

Most naloxone today comes in nasal spray. Remove the cap. Insert the nozzle into one nostril. Press the plunger firmly until you hear a click. That’s it. No need to spray both nostrils. Wait 2-3 minutes. If there’s no response, give a second dose in the other nostril. Don’t wait longer. Don’t hope it’ll work on its own. Naloxone wears off in 30 to 90 minutes. The drug they took might last longer. That’s why you still need to call 911-even if they wake up.

Place Them in the Recovery Position

If they’re breathing but unconscious, roll them onto their side. This is called the recovery position. It keeps their airway open and prevents choking if they vomit.

Here’s how: Kneel beside them. Straighten their legs. Bend their nearest arm at 90 degrees, palm up. Place their far arm across their chest. Bend their far leg at the knee. Gently roll them toward you, using the bent leg as a pivot. Tilt their head back slightly so the chin points up. Make sure their mouth is facing downward so fluids can drain. Stay with them. Monitor their breathing every 2-3 minutes.

Don’t leave them lying on their back. Don’t put them in a cold shower. Don’t try to make them walk it off. These are myths that kill. Cold water can trigger heart rhythm problems, especially with stimulants like MDMA. Walking? They’re unconscious. They can’t walk.

What Not to Do

There are a lot of bad ideas out there. Don’t inject them with salt water, milk, or anything else. Don’t slap them or pour water on them. Don’t give them coffee or let them “sleep it off.” Don’t assume they’re just drunk. Overdose looks like deep sleep-but it’s not. Their breathing is shallow. Their lips may be blue. Their skin may be cold and clammy.

Don’t wait for them to wake up on their own. That’s how people die. The average time from overdose to death is 15 to 30 minutes. If you’re waiting, you’re losing time.

After Help Arrives

When paramedics show up, tell them everything you did. When you called. What you gave them. How they responded. Did they vomit? Did their pupils change? Did they move after naloxone? Write it down if you can. This information saves lives.

Even if they seem fine, they still need to go to the hospital. Naloxone wears off. The overdose can come back. Some opioids, like fentanyl, are so strong that one dose of naloxone isn’t enough. They might need more treatment, monitoring, or even ventilation.

Don’t feel guilty if they don’t survive. You did everything right. You acted. You didn’t look away. That matters more than you know.

Be Ready Next Time

If you live in a place where overdoses happen-even once a year-get trained. Learn how to use naloxone. Practice the recovery position. Know the signs. Many community centers in Melbourne offer free overdose response training. The Australian Drug Foundation and Better Health Channel have free videos and guides online.

Keep a naloxone kit in your bag, car, or home. It’s not just for drug users. It’s for anyone who might be around someone who uses. Fentanyl is in pills that look like prescription meds. It’s in counterfeit Adderall. It’s in cocaine. You don’t have to know who’s using. You just have to be ready.

Overdose isn’t a moral failure. It’s a medical emergency. And you don’t need to be brave to help. You just need to act.