What Are Opioids?

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Opioids are:

  • Prescription pain medication like morphine, codeine, methadone, oxycodone, hydrocodone, fentanyl, hydromorphone

  • Illegal drugs like heroin

 

How do opioids Affect the body?

  • Reduce pain and create a sense of euphoria

  • Slowed breathing

  • Reduced energy

  • Sleepiness 

  • Confusion

  • Pin-point pupils

  • Constipation

  • Altered mood

  • Nausea and vomiting

 

What are the signs of an overdose? 

  • Face is extremely pale and/or clammy to the touch

  • Limp body

  • Fingernails or lips have a blue or purple color

  • The person is vomiting or making gurgling sounds

  • The person cannot be awakened from sleep or cannot speak

  • Breathing is very slow or stopped

  • The heartbeat is very slow or stopped

 

How to treat a suspected overdose

  • Call 911. Say “Someone is unresponsive and not breathing” and give a specific location description or address.

  • If you have access to Narcan (also called Naloxone, an opioid reversal medication), administer it while waiting for paramedics to arrive.

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