What is opioid overdose?
Opioids are a class of drug or medication which includes hydrocodone, heroin, oxycodone, fentanyl, and morphine. They are most often prescribed for pain relief. Opioid drug overdose happens when you take more opioids than your body can handle. You will lose control over your breathing, and may lose consciousness. With slowed breathing, less oxygen gets into your blood. This can lead to brain damage, cardiac arrest and death. If you think someone is overdosing, call 9-1-1 right away.
Is opioid overdose a concern in B.C.?
Yes. The toxic drug crisis has been and remains a public health emergency since April 2016. Toxic drugs are the leading cause of death for British Columbians aged 19 to 39, and the second leading cause of death overall. Drug toxicity deaths continue to increase and now accounts for about 6 deaths per day. The drug supply is increasingly toxic and affects people in urban, suburban and rural areas of the province.
Why should I be concerned about fentanyl?
Fentanyl is a lot more powerful than other opioids, which makes the risk of accidental overdose much higher. It is roughly 50 to 100 times more toxic than morphine. In recent years there have been reports that fentanyl produced in illicit laboratories is being sold on the streets. It is sometimes sold as Oxycontin®, heroin, or other substances. People may be taking fentanyl and putting themselves at risk without even knowing it.
In 2018, fentanyl and substances chemically similar to fentanyl were detected in 85% of illegal drug overdose deaths.
What are the signs of opioid overdose?
Signs that someone may be having an opioid overdose include:
- Not moving
- The person is not moving and can’t be woken
- Slow breathing
- The person is breathing very slowly or not breathing at all
- Blue lips
- The person’s fingernails or lips are turning blue or purple
- Choking sounds
- The person is making choking, gurgling or heavy snoring sounds
- Cold, clammy skin
- The person’s skin feels cold and clammy to the touch
- Tiny pupils
- The person’s pupils look tiny
If you think someone is overdosing, call 9-1-1 right away.
Can opioid overdose be reversed?
Naloxone is a drug that can reverse opioid overdose. When injected into the arm or thigh muscle, it can quickly reverse the effects of opioid drugs. Naloxone can reverse slowed breathing within 3 to 5 minutes, but its effects will only last for 20 to 90 minutes. A second dose of naloxone may be needed if the first dose does not restore a normal breathing rate.
If the opioid is still present after the naloxone wears off the overdose may return, requiring another dose of naloxone. This is why it is important to seek medical help as soon as possible by calling 9-1-1, and be prepared with a second dose of naloxone if the overdose symptoms return.
Fentanyl overdoses are much harder to reverse than other opioids and might require significantly higher doses of naloxone.
Where can I get naloxone?
Kits are available at no cost to:
- People at risk of an opioid overdose
- People likely to witness and respond to an overdose such as a family or friend of someone at risk
To locate a participating site near you, use our Site Finder search tool. Kits are not available to individuals directly through the BC Centre for Disease Control. To learn more about naloxone, see HealthLinkBC File #118 Naloxone: Treating opioid overdose.
Is the nasal spray version of naloxone available in BC?
If you are First Nations’ and living in BC, you may request Nasal Naloxone directly from your pharmacy – you do not require a prescription from a doctor or nurse practitioner. You will need your Status number and Personal Health Number. The First Nations Health Authority’s First Nations Health Benefits plan will cover the cost of injectable and nasal spray forms of naloxone.
What are W-18 and carfentanil?
While fentanyl has gotten much of the immediate public attention, other compounds like it—such as carfentanil or W-18—are also very toxic drugs that may be cut into and sold as heroin, fake “oxy” pills, or cocaine. These drugs are equally or more dangerous than fentanyl, and so extreme precautions need to be taken by people who use illegally possessed drugs. People should be aware that drugs they obtain other than from legitimate sources (i.e., a pharmacy or a hospital) may not be what the dealer says or believes they are.
