Boston Globe OP-ED on NARCAN: FEW DEATHS from heroin overdose happen alone. A friend or relative is often standing… read more...
Myths about Overdose
There are many myths and ‘street methods’ that are used when someone overdoses.
Talk to your clients about what NOT to do.
Many people have seen someone overdose, and have tried their best to help. People sometimes use creative methods to revive their friends when they are in trouble. However, rescue breathing and Narcan are much safer and much more likely to work. Other methods do NOT reverse an overdose or get oxygen to a person who has stopped breathing.
- Do not leave the person alone—s/he could stop breathing. If you MUST leave them, make sure they are in the recovery position*link to recovery position
- Do not put the person in a bath—s/he could drown.
- Do not induce vomiting—s/he could choke.
- Do not give the person something to drink—s/he could throw up.
- Do not put ice down the person’s pants. Cooling down the core body temperature of someone who is overdosing is unsafe because it will slow down their body function even more than just the overdose.
- Do not try to stimulate the person in a way that could cause harm. Slapping too hard, kicking in the testicles, burning the bottom of the feet, etc. can cause long-term damage.
- Do not inject them with anything (saltwater, cocaine, milk)—it will not work any better than physical stimulation and can waste time or make things worse depending on what you inject. For example, a salt injection could cause someone to go into cardiac arrest if he or she already has high sodium levels. Also, every injection brings a risk of bacterial infection, abscesses, endocarditis, or cellulitis.
