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What to do if…
someone may have overdosed and is difficult to wake

Produced and maintained by PanicStation.org Published: Last reviewed: Editorial policy USA guide

Short answer

Call 911 immediately and say that someone may have overdosed and is difficult to wake. Put the phone on speaker, follow the dispatcher’s instructions, and give naloxone if it is available.

Do not do these things

  • Do not wait to see whether the person sleeps it off.
  • Do not leave the person alone.
  • Do not induce vomiting.
  • Do not give them food, drink, coffee, or another medicine.
  • Do not delay calling 911 while trying to identify everything they took.
  • Do not use an online Poison Control tool instead of calling 911 when someone cannot be awakened.
  • Do not assume the danger has passed if naloxone wakes them.

What to do now

  1. Call 911 now. Give the exact location and say, “Possible overdose, difficult to wake.” Tell the dispatcher whether the person is breathing normally and what may have been taken, if known.

  2. Put the phone on speaker. Speak loudly, tap the person’s shoulder, and check whether they respond and are breathing normally. Gasping, very slow or shallow breathing, or irregular snoring or gurgling is not normal breathing.

  3. If they are not breathing normally, start CPR immediately. Follow the dispatcher’s instructions for chest compressions and breaths, and use an automated external defibrillator if one is available.

  4. Give naloxone promptly if it is available and an opioid may be involved, or if you do not know what was taken. Follow the instructions on the package or device. Naloxone is unlikely to harm someone if opioids are not involved.

  5. If the person does not respond, give another naloxone dose after two to three minutes if the product instructions allow it and another dose is available. Continue CPR and follow the dispatcher’s instructions.

  6. If the person is breathing normally but remains unresponsive, place them on their side to reduce the risk of choking, unless moving them is unsafe or the dispatcher tells you not to. Keep watching their breathing.

  7. Stay with them until emergency responders arrive. If they wake after naloxone, keep them nearby and encourage them to accept emergency assessment because naloxone is temporary and overdose symptoms can return.

  8. Without delaying care, unlock the entrance and send someone to meet responders if another person is present. Place medicine containers or packaging where responders can see them, but do not taste or sniff unknown substances.

What can wait

You do not need to determine the exact drug, amount, source, or reason before calling for help. Contacting relatives, cleaning the area, discussing consequences, and deciding what happens afterward can wait until emergency care is underway.

Important reassurance

You do not need proof that an overdose occurred before calling 911. Being unable to wake someone is enough reason to treat the situation as an emergency, and acting now may help keep them alive until professional care arrives.

Scope note

This guide covers immediate first steps only. Medical follow-up and later decisions may require help from emergency clinicians, Poison Control, or other qualified professionals.

Important note

This is general emergency first-aid information, not medical advice or a substitute for instructions from 911, emergency responders, or healthcare professionals.

Additional Resources

Closely connected guides that may be useful during the same situation or its immediate aftermath.

About this guide

This guide was produced and is maintained by PanicStation.org using its published editorial process. Official and specialist sources are checked where relevant, and AI-assisted tools may be used for drafting, organisation, and consistency checks. The site operator remains responsible for publication, revision, and removal decisions.

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