Overdose Prevention
For those who inject illicit drugs, such as heroin, overdose is responsible for more deaths than any other cause. The information in this section aims to help you identify important areas in relation to overdose awareness and overdose prevention.
Who's at risk? 
People at risk of overdose can include those:
- who inject or inject for the first time;
- who have left some kind of detoxification or rehabilitation programme;
- leaving prison;
- who mix opiates with other depressants, such as benzodiazepines or alcohol;
- who may be experiencing depression.
Therefore it is really important:
- to get reliable information about the risks from a drug specialist - not a dealer;
- to assess your own level of risk in terms of overdosing ;
- not to mix your drugs
- to know what to do to if someone else overdoses when you're around,and
- to make sure that if you're own your own, someone knows where you are and what you're doing.
What is tolerance?
Tolerance relates to the amount of a particular drug your body needs to get the desired effect. The more often you use, say heroin, the more you need to get the same hit every time. Tolerance to opiates such as heroin can drop quite quickly over a few days if you stop using it. This can mean that if you start up again with the same amount you were using before you stopped, you are putting yourself at very great risk of overdose and potentially death.
Signs of overdose
- snoring deeply - this is often and understandably mistaken for sleeping
- turning blue
- not breathing
- no initial signs at all - the effects can kick-in hours after the initial hit
What not to do
Things you should never do if you think someone has overdosed.
- never put people under a cold shower or in a cold bath
- never pick someone up to walk them around
- never smack, hit or hurt someone to try and bring them round
- never inject someone with salt water
The only affects any of these things might have, is to cause more damage, increase the likelihood of the person dying and/or delay the time it takes to call an ambulance.
What to do
Useful life-saving action you could take if you think someone has overdosed.
- check their consciousness by shouting or pinching their ear
- put them into the recovery position
- call an ambulance
- start chest compressions (heart massage) if their breathing has stopped, slowed down or if they're cold and turning blue
If you have never had any first aid training before or need an update, get in touch with your local St. John Ambulance service; your local drug or alcohol agency, or the local Drug Action Team to find out if there are any courses available.
If you need to find out about local services, please go to the services section.
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