Heroin Overdose: Help Save a Life

When you or your loved one is addicted to heroin, the idea of overdosing may become terrifying. I’m here to help you understand what a heroin overdose looks like, why it happens, and how to get help. We state the facts on how to save lives and how to find hope in treatment.

What Is a Heroin Overdose?

A heroin overdose happens when someone takes too much heroin, overwhelming their body’s ability to function. Heroin, a highly addictive opioid drug, slows down critical systems like breathing and heart rate. These systems may go down when overwhelmed, resulting in life-threatening effects.

According to the National Institute on Drug Abuse, drug overdose death rates involving heroin have surged in recent years, with over 13000 fatalities reported in 2020 alone. The risk of overdose is real, but understanding it can help you act.

Signs of a Heroin Overdose

A timely recognition of an overdose may save lives. Look out for these symptoms.

• Labored breathing or shallow breathing
• Chrome lips and fingernails, Blue or gray lips and fingernails
• cold, sweating skin
• Lack of responsiveness or difficulty waking up
• Slow or irregular rate of heartbeat
• Pinpoint pupils

Call 911 immediately if you witness these signs and symptoms. Each second is important in saving a life.

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Why Do Heroin Overdoses Happen?

Heroin is an opioid, like prescription opioids, but it is often mixed with dangerous substances like fentanyl. This increases the risk of overdose because you can’t know the drug’s strength. The CDC reports that overdose deaths involving synthetic opioids have skyrocketed, contributing to the rise in opioid overdose fatalities.

How much heroin does it take to overdose?

The amount that is a lethal dose of heroin is not exact because it is dependent on aspects, including the following.

• Your tolerance (heavy users might require more than others to overdose, though tolerance lowers if the user has some time clean)
• The drug’s purity, or whether it’s mixed with other opioids including fentanyl
• Weight, health, as well as the use of other substances
• Whether you are/have used other opioids, including prescriptions

It does not require a lot in order to be fatal, and it could be laced with stronger drugs. That’s why seeking help from medical professionals is so necessary.

What Happens When You Overdose on Heroin?

When you overdose, heroin floods your brain’s opioid receptors, slowing your breathing and lowering blood pressure. When you lack oxygen, your body organs start giving up. Untreated, this can cause brain damage, death or coma. But there’s hope—emergency medical care, including a medicine called Naloxone (a nasal spray or injection), can reverse the effects of an opioid overdose and save lives.

How to Respond to a Heroin Overdose

If you suspect an overdose:

1. Call 911: Tell the operator it’s a suspected opioid overdose. Be calm and have a sense of urgency.
2. Administer Naloxone: Use Naloxone to counter an overdose in case you have one. It is not risky and you can resume breathing in a couple of minutes.
3. Keep the Person on their side: do not turn them over, to avoid choking, observe their breathing and call an emergency.
4. Follow Up: After emergency care, connect with health care providers for addiction treatment to prevent future overdoses.

Naloxone can be found without a prescription in numerous locations. Contact your neighborhood pharmacy or health department to gain access.

Locating a Treatment and Support

Addiction to heroin can be solved by taking the first step, asking. Treatment programs offer medicines to treat opioid use disorder, like methadone or buprenorphine, alongside therapy to address the root causes of addiction. You don’t have to face this alone—professional medical care and support groups can guide you toward recovery.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

Summary

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