12/11/2023
Fentanyl Overdose
A fentanyl overdose occurs when a person consumes a harmful or toxic amount of the drug, resulting in severe and potentially life-threatening effects.4 Fentanyl’s extreme potency greatly increases the risk of overdose.4 A fentanyl overdose can cause a person’s breathing to slow or stop, resulting in hypoxia, a condition where the brain does not receive enough oxygen. Hypoxia can result in brain injury, coma, and death.4 As mentioned, illicitly manufactured fentanyl (IMF) is the primary driver of opioid overdose deaths.2 Without pharmaceutical regulations, IMF dosing can be wildly variable, and even small amounts of the drug can be deadly depending on a person’s size, tolerance, and usage.2 Unfortunately, other illicit drugs and counterfeit pills are increasingly adulterated with fentanyl.2 This is particularly dangerous as people are often unaware that they are consuming a potentially lethal dose of fentanyl.3, 4
Signs of Fentanyl Overdose
Signs of an overdose involving opioids such as fentanyl include:3, 5
Small, constricted, “pinpoint pupils.”
Loss of consciousness.
Slowed or stopped breathing.
Faint heartbeat.
Choking or gurgling sounds.
Vomiting.
Limp body.
Cold and/or clammy skin.
Blue or purple fingernails, lips, or skin.
It can be hard to spot a fentanyl overdose, and a person may not exhibit all the fentanyl overdose signs above. Even if you are uncertain whether a person is experiencing a fentanyl overdose, call 911.
Treatment for Fentanyl Overdose
Knowing what to do if someone is experiencing a fentanyl overdose can help save a life. If you suspect someone is overdosing:3, 5
Call 911 immediately. Fentanyl overdoses require medical attention. Call 911 and provide the address or description of your location. Remain calm and carefully follow the dispatcher’s instructions.
Administer naloxone (Narcan) if available. Naloxone can rapidly reverse an opioid overdose by restoring normal breathing to a person if their breathing has slowed or stopped. Calling 911 is still necessary even if naloxone is administered.
Attempt to keep the person awake and breathing. Do this until emergency assistance arrives.
Lay the person on their side. Laying the person on their side can help prevent aspiration and choking if they vomit.
Do not leave the person. Remain with the person until emergency assistance arrives.
