Responding to a Suspected Opioid Overdose
(revised April 2019*)
DHHS (NIOSH) Publication Number 2019-127
Call 911 if an overdose is suspected. Even if the person experiencing an overdose wakes up or appears to have improved significantly after one or two doses of naloxone, emergency medical assistance is still necessary.
A medical professional should evaluate anyone who has experienced an overdose as soon as possible. Overdose symptoms may not fully improve or may quickly return after initial treatment with naloxone. Other medical complications also are possible. Note that an incapacitated individual’s symptoms may be unrelated to opioids.
Responding to a Suspected Opioid Overdose pdf icon[PDF – 131 KB]
*This document was updated on April 4, 2019 to clarify the wording in Step 6.
Page last reviewed: April 4, 2019
Content source: National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health