A sad fact about the drug epidemic is that many people don’t survive their addiction. According to the National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIH), thousands of people die every year from an overdose, and that number is only rising. Overdosing is very dangerous, and sometimes death can’t be avoided, but there are things you can do if someone overdoses while you’re nearby. You’ll need to know what to look for and keep a cool head if you want to help someone who’s overdosed.

What Are The Symptoms?

There are many types of drugs, both legally and illegally obtainable, that can be very dangerous if too much is ingested. They all come with different signs of an overdose, but in general, the first signs will be changes in vital functions. Vital functions are things like pulse rate, blood pressure, and breathing. Panting, gasping, labored breathing, and the fingers, toes or lips turning blue are signs that respiration is impaired. Dizziness, drowsiness, and unconsciousness can be caused by a dangerous drop in blood pressure. Some drugs can cause deadly overheating (high temperature) and dehydration as well. Flushed skin that feels dry and hot to the touch can indicate an overdose.

What Should I Do?

Calling for medical help is the first and most important thing you can do if you are near someone who is experiencing an overdose. Do not try to diagnose how severe the overdose is. It’s impossible to tell how their organs will be affected by the drug. Even if they ask you not to call an ambulance, their life could depend on it.

While you wait for help to arrive, make sure they don’t choke on their own vomit or anything else. Try to keep them in a position that will prevent choking or falling and injuring themselves. They should not eat anything, as this increases the risk of choking and might make it harder for doctors to treat them. Do not leave them alone, even for a moment.

What Can I Tell The Doctors?

Be completely honest with the medical professionals treating the overdose victim. Tell them what drugs they’ve taken and how much, if you know. Many young people just like you feel tempted to lie to protect their friend from legal trouble. Not only does this put your friend in great danger because the doctors can’t treat them as effectively, but it also won’t keep them from getting in trouble. Drug tests will be performed, so it’s much smarter to get your friend the help they need as quickly as possible.

If you’re going to be somewhere people are using, encourage them to know their limits and not to mix substances. Overdoses are harder to treat when multiple drugs are in a person’s system. Most effectively and importantly, though, you can avoid spaces where drugs are being used and avoid using them yourself. Steering clear of drugs and their influence is the only sure-fire way to prevent an overdose that could be deadly.