Opioid & Fentanyl Awareness + Naloxone Training
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Opioids and Fentanyl - What You Need to Know
Opioids – including prescribed pain medicines and illegal drugs like heroin and illicit fentanyl – are powerful substances that depress breathing and can cause death by overdose. Overdose deaths remain a major public-health crisis in the U.S., and even small amounts of certain synthetic opioids can be fatal.
Recent data show overdose deaths have been high but also that expanded access to naloxone and other responses are making a measurable difference.
Fast Facts
- Opioids were involved in the majority of overdose deaths in recent years; tens of thousands of Americans die from overdoses annually.
- Fentanyl is a synthetic opioid that is far more potent than heroin or morphine – estimates put it roughly 50-100x stronger than heroin or morphine. Even tiny amounts can be deadly.
- Naloxone (Narcan) reliably reverses opioid overdoses when given in time – it is safe, non-addictive, and widely available.
- Addiction does not discriminate — it can affect anyone, regardless of gender, age, race, religion, geography, or socioeconomic status.
- Addiction is a disease, not a moral failing or a “series of bad choices.” – No child dreams of growing up to be addicted. Compassion and treatment save lives.
What are Opioids?
- Opioids are pain-relieving drugs that act on opioid receptors in the brain. They include prescription medicines (oxycodone, hydrocodone, morphine) and illicit substances (heroin, illegally manufactured fentanyl).
- Prescription opioids and street opioids can be chemically the same in how they affect the brain – so a prescription tablet can carry the same risk of addiction and overdose as a street opioid.
Why are Opioids Dangerous?
- Opioids reduce the brain’s drive to breathe. When breathing slows too much, the body and brain get less oxygen – and death can follow.
- Tolerance changes are critical – after a period of not using, tolerance drops; the same dose that used to be survivable may be fatal. Many fatal overdoses happen after a period of abstinence (rehab, jail, detox, or just a break).
- Mixing substances multiplies risk – alcohol, benzodiazepines, stimulants, or other drugs combined with opioids change how the body responds and can dramatically increase overdose risk.
- The illicit drug supply is unpredictable – fentanyl and other synthetics are commonly mixed into pills or other substances without the user’s knowledge.
Signs of an Opioid Overdose - what to look for
- Very slow, shallow, or stopped breathing
- Unresponsiveness or inability to wake someone (mumbling, no response to attempts to wake)
- Blue or gray lips and fingernails (cyanosis)
- Pinpoint pupils (very small pupils) – though not everyone will show this sign
- Slow heartbeat, limp body, or very low level of consciousness
If you see these signs, treat it as an emergency.
What To Do
Step-by-Step (bystander guide)
- Check responsiveness – try to wake the person by calling their name, shaking their shoulders, or giving a sternum rub.
- Call 911 immediately – get professional help started right away. If you are alone, call before you give naloxone so help is on its way.
- Give Naloxone (Narcan) if you have it – nasal spray is simple: peel, aim, spray in one nostril, and then watch. Kits often include a second dose – use it if there’s no response after 2-3 minutes. Stay with the person. Naloxone works quickly but may only last 60-90 minutes while some opioids stay in the body up to 6 hours – they can overdose again after Narcan wears off.
- Support breathing – if trained, provide rescue breathing or CPR if the person is not breathing. If not trained, give chest compressions if you know how and follow 911 instructions.
- Keep them safe and calm – do not leave the person alone. If they vomit, put them on their side in the recovery position to keep the airway clear.
- Tell responders exactly what was taken (or what you suspect) – this helps medical staff choose the right treatment.
- Don’t fear calling 911 – many states have Good Samaritan overdose laws protecting people who call for help. If you are unsure about local protections, prioritize the person’s life – calling for help is the right call.
How to use Narcan
- Confirm signs of opioid overdose (unresponsive, slow/absent breathing).
- Call 911.
- Lay person on their back and tilt the head up. Insert Narcan nasal spray into a nostril and press the plunger once.
- If no response in 2-3 minutes – give the second dose (often in the other nostril).
- Stay with the person until EMS arrives; watch for re-sedation and do not allow them to re-use opioids while still sedated.
Prevention and Harm Reduction
- If someone is using, the safest option is not to use alone – have a sober person nearby who can call for help or use Narcan.
- If returning from treatment or a period of abstinence, any opioid use is especially risky – tolerance drops quickly.
- Avoid mixing drugs and alcohol with opioids.
- If you or someone you know uses, get a fentanyl test strip and learn how to use it – it can detect fentanyl in many substances (not a guarantee, but it reduces risk).
- Carry naloxone and get trained to use it – it’s simple and lifesaving. Amudim provides FREE Narcan training classes, teaching the public how to administer this lifesaving opioid antidote.
Frequently Asked Questions
Narcan is a medicine that temporarily reverses the life-threatening effects of an opioid overdose. It quickly displaces opioids from brain receptors that slow breathing, restoring breathing and responsiveness for a period of time. It does not harm someone who hasn’t taken opioids.
No – Narcan has no effect if opioids are not present. It is safe to use if you suspect an opioid overdose.
Narcan often produces a visible response within a few minutes of administration. Its effect is temporary — typically under two hours — while some opioids (and especially long-acting or potent synthetic opioids) can remain in the body much longer. That’s why you should stay with the person and call 911; they may need further medical care or additional doses.
Yes. Most kits include more than one dose. If the person doesn’t respond within the time suggested in the kit instructions (usually a couple of minutes), give another dose. Emergency services can administer further treatment if required.
Key red flags for opioid overdose are very slow or stopped breathing, extremely shallow breathing, very small pupils (not always), inability to wake the person, and bluish lips or nails. If you’re unsure and the person is hard to wake or breathing is abnormal, treat it as an emergency: try to rouse them, call 911, and give Narcan if you suspect opioids.
Yes. Narcan’s effect can wear off while opioids are still active in the body. That’s why staying with the person, calling 911, and getting them to medical care is essential — they can re-sedate and become vulnerable again.
After reversal, the person still needs medical evaluation. If EMS is on the way, follow instructions and keep the person safe and monitored. If EMS will be delayed or unavailable, try to get them to a medical facility. Encourage them to accept medical attention — their body may need monitoring and support.
Yes. Narcan’s effect can wear off while opioids are still active in the body. That’s why staying with the person, calling 911, and getting them to medical care is essential — they can re-sedate and become vulnerable again.
It can feel impossible to watch someone you love use drugs.
Shame, secrecy, and “it won’t happen to us” thinking are common – but opioids do not respect boundaries, geography, or beliefs.
If you are worried about someone, reach out for help. Families and communities save lives when they act with knowledge, not fear.