Prevention & Response
Opioid Overdose
What are Opioids?
Opioids are a class of drugs that include prescription pain relievers such as codeine, hydrocodone (Vicodin), oxycodone (OxyContin, Percocet), and morphine; synthetic opioids such as fentanyl; and the illegal drug heroin. Opioids work by binding to opioid receptors in the brain, spinal cord, and other areas of the body. They reduce the sending of pain messages to the brain and reduce feelings of pain.
Prescription opioids can be safe when taken for a short time and as prescribed by a doctor, but they are frequently misused. Regular opioid use—even as prescribed by a doctor—can produce dependence, and when misused, opioid pain relievers can lead to fatal overdose.
Thousands of people are impacted each year by the misuse of prescription drugs, whether it be their own personal use or use by family and friends.
Recognizing Opioid Overdoses
Drug overdoses, both fatal and nonfatal, have become an epidemic nationally as well as in Missouri, where drug overdose is the #1 leading cause of death among adults aged 18-44. Most drug overdoses involve opioids, particularly fentanyl. Fentanyl is a highly potent synthetic opioid, that can be taken on its own or added to pills, powders, and crystals. It is often found in ‘counterfeit’ pills that resemble prescription pills such as Adderall or Xanax, and has been found in cocaine as well as methamphetamine.
Opioid overdose deaths are preventable. Reduce your risk of an accidental overdose by only taking drugs that have been prescribed to you by your doctor or that come from a pharmacy.
Signs and symptoms of an opioid overdose include:
- Unresponsive or unconscious
- Slow, shallow or absent breathing
- Choking or gurgling
- Small, constricted, ‘pinpoint pupils’
- Cold and clammy skin
- Discolored skin, lips, or nails (color drops out or changes)
If you suspect an opioid overdose
- Call 911 immediately.
- Missouri’s Good Samaritan Law is designed to save lives by encouraging people to seek emergency medical help if they experience or witness a drug or alcohol overdose or other medical emergency. Under this law, the person who seeks medical help and the person experiencing the medical emergency will be protected from minor drug and alcohol violations.
- Administer naloxone (Narcan® nasal spray).
- Start rescue breathing.
- Lay the person on their side, in the recovery position, to prevent choking.
- Stay with them until emergency responders arrive.
Naloxone (Narcan)
Naloxone (brand name Narcan®) is a life-saving drug that reverses opioid overdoses. It can be administered by non-medical individuals through a nasal spray. It is a very safe medication that blocks opioid receptors and reverses an overdose, but has no effect on someone not experiencing an overdose. It is not meant to be a substitute for medical attention, and you should always call 911 for someone experiencing an overdose. It is effective for 30-90 minutes after the dose is given.
Narcan is available at no-cost in the Wellness Resource Center, located on the lower level of the Student Center, during regular business hours (Monday-Friday between 8am and 5p). Narcan will be given judgement free, anonymously (personal information will not be collected), and will come with directions on how and when to use it.
Columbia/Boone County Department of Public Health and Human Services, located at 1005 W. Worley Street, also provides naloxone, as well as fentanyl testing strips. To locate other naloxone providers across the state, visit this resource.
- Peel back the package to remove the device.
- Place the tip of the nozzle in either nostril until your fingers touch the bottom of the person’s nose. Do not press the plunger until you are ready to administer the dose.
- Press the plunger firmly to release the dose into the person’s nose.
Do not use narcan if there are no signs of overdose, the nose is obstructed or the person has no pulse.
Need Help Now?
National Drug Abuse Hotline: 1-800-943-0566
Prescription Drug Abuse Hotline: 1-888-939-3612