Call 911
Administer Naloxone (Narcan)
Keep them awake and breathing
Lay them on their side
Stay with them until help arrives
What are OPIOIDS?
What are OPIOIDS?
Opioids usually come in pill form and are prescribed by medical doctors and dentists to reduce pain. When opioids are taken as prescribed by a medical professional, they are relatively safe and can reduce pain effectively. However, opioids can also make people feel very relaxed and “high” – which is why they are sometimes used for non-medical reasons. This can be dangerous because opioids can be highly addictive, and overdoses and death are common. Heroin is one of the world’s most dangerous opioids, and is never used as a medicine in the United States.
Common Prescription Opioids
- hydrocodone (Vicodin®), oxycodone (OxyContin®, Percocet®)
- oxymorphone (Opana®)
- morphine (Kadian®, Avinza®)
- codeine
- fentanyl
Opioids usually come in pill form and are prescribed by medical doctors and dentists to reduce pain. When opioids are taken as prescribed by a medical professional, they are relatively safe and can reduce pain effectively. However, opioids can also make people feel very relaxed and “high” – which is why they are sometimes used for non-medical reasons. This can be dangerous because opioids can be highly addictive, and overdoses and death are common. Heroin is one of the world’s most dangerous opioids, and is never used as a medicine in the United States.
Common Prescription Opioids:
- hydrocodone (Vicodin®), oxycodone (OxyContin®, Percocet®)
- oxymorphone (Opana®)
- morphine (Kadian®, Avinza®)
- codeine
- fentanyl
How are prescription opioids misused?
People misuse prescription opioids by:
When misusing a prescription opioid, a person can swallow the medicine in its normal form. Sometimes people crush pills or open capsules, dissolve the powder in water, and inject the liquid into a vein. Some also snort the powder.
- taking the medicine in a way or dose other than prescribed
- taking someone else’s prescription medicine
- taking the medicine for the effect it causes—to get high
When misusing a prescription opioid, a person can swallow the medicine in its normal form. Sometimes people crush pills or open capsules, dissolve the powder in water, and inject the liquid into a vein. Some also snort the powder.
How are prescription opioids misused?
People misuse prescription opioids by:
When misusing a prescription opioid, a person can swallow the medicine in its normal form. Sometimes people crush pills or open capsules, dissolve the powder in water, and inject the liquid into a vein. Some also snort the powder.
- taking the medicine in a way or dose other than prescribed
- taking someone else’s prescription medicine
- taking the medicine for the effect it causes—to get high
When misusing a prescription opioid, a person can swallow the medicine in its normal form. Sometimes people crush pills or open capsules, dissolve the powder in water, and inject the liquid into a vein. Some also snort the powder.
How are prescription opioids misused?
People misuse prescription opioids by:
When misusing a prescription opioid, a person can swallow the medicine in its normal form. Sometimes people crush pills or open capsules, dissolve the powder in water, and inject the liquid into a vein. Some also snort the powder.
- taking the medicine in a way or dose other than prescribed
- taking someone else’s prescription medicine
- taking the medicine for the effect it causes—to get high
When misusing a prescription opioid, a person can swallow the medicine in its normal form. Sometimes people crush pills or open capsules, dissolve the powder in water, and inject the liquid into a vein. Some also snort the powder.
What is Fentanyl?
Fentanyl is a prescription drug that is also made and used illegally. Like morphine, it is a medicine that is typically used to treat patients with severe pain, especially after surgery.
The illegally used fentanyl most often associated with recent overdoses is made in labs. This synthetic fentanyl is sold illegally as a powder, dropped onto blotter paper, put in eye droppers and nasal sprays, or made into pills that look like other prescription opioids.
What is Fentanyl?
Fentanyl is a prescription drug that is also made and used illegally. Like morphine, it is a medicine that is typically used to treat patients with severe pain, especially after surgery,
The illegally used fentanyl most often associated with recent overdoses is made in labs. This synthetic fentanyl is sold illegally as a powder, dropped onto blotter paper, put in eye droppers and nasal sprays, or made into pills that look like other prescription opioids
The illegally used fentanyl most often associated with recent overdoses is made in labs. This synthetic fentanyl is sold illegally as a powder, dropped onto blotter paper, put in eye droppers and nasal sprays, or made into pills that look like other prescription opioids
What is Fentanyl?
Fentanyl is a prescription drug that is also made and used illegally. Like morphine, it is a medicine that is typically used to treat patients with severe pain, especially after surgery,
The illegally used fentanyl most often associated with recent overdoses is made in labs. This synthetic fentanyl is sold illegally as a powder, dropped onto blotter paper, put in eye droppers and nasal sprays, or made into pills that look like other prescription opioids
The illegally used fentanyl most often associated with recent overdoses is made in labs. This synthetic fentanyl is sold illegally as a powder, dropped onto blotter paper, put in eye droppers and nasal sprays, or made into pills that look like other prescription opioids
Why is Fentanyl so dangerous?
The high potency of fentanyl greatly increases risk of overdose, especially if a person who uses drugs is unaware that a powder or pill contains it. They can underestimate the dose of opioids they are taking, resulting in overdose.
What is Xylazine?
A tranquilizer called xylazine (street name “Tranq”), a non-opioid sedative, is increasingly being found in the US illegal drug supply and linked to overdose deaths.
Due to its impact on the opioid crisis, fentanyl mixed (adulterated) with xylazine was declared an emerging threat by the White House’s Office of National Drug Control Policy.
Due to its impact on the opioid crisis, fentanyl mixed (adulterated) with xylazine was declared an emerging threat by the White House’s Office of National Drug Control Policy.
Why is Fentanyl so dangerous?
The high potency of fentanyl greatly increases risk of overdose, especially if a person who uses drugs is unaware that a powder or pill contains it. They can underestimate the dose of opioids they are taking, resulting in overdose.
What is Xylazine?
A tranquilizer called xylazine (street name “Tranq”), a non-opioid sedative, is increasingly being found in the US illegal drug supply and linked to overdose deaths.
Due to its impact on the opioid crisis, fentanyl mixed (adulterated) with xylazine was declared an emerging threat by the White House’s Office of National Drug Control Policy.
Naloxone (Narcan) saves lives. It can reverse an overdose caused by opioids (i.e., prescription pain medication, heroin, or illicit fentanyl).
Naloxone (Narcan) saves lives. It can reverse an overdose caused by opioids.
(i.e., prescription pain medication, heroin, or illicit fentanyl).
Signs of an opioid overdose:
Small, constricted “pinpoint pupils”
Falling asleep or losing consciousness
Slow, weak or no breathing
Choking or gurgling sounds
Limp Body
Cold, clammy, and/or discolored skin
Small, constricted “pinpoint pupils”
Falling asleep or losing consciousness
Slow, weak or no breathing
Choking or gurgling sounds
Limp Body
Cold, clammy, and/or discolored skin
If you suspect an overdose:
If you suspect an overdose:
Call 911
Administer Naloxone (Narcan)
Keep them awake and breathing
Lay them on their side
Stay with them until help arrives
Call 911
Administer Naloxone (Narcan)
Keep them awake and breathing
Lay them on their side
Stay with them until help arrives
Call 911
Administer Naloxone (Narcan)
Keep them awake and breathing
Lay them on their side
Stay with them until help arrives
Materials adapted for Rise Above Opioids from:
NIDA. 2021, June 1. Prescription Opioids DrugFacts. Retrieved from https://nida.nih.gov/publications/drugfacts/prescription-opioids
NIDA. 2021, June 1. Fentanyl DrugFacts. Retrieved from https://nida.nih.gov/publications/drugfacts/fentanyl
https://www.cdc.gov/stop-overdose/caring/fentanyl-facts.html
https://www.cdc.gov/overdose-prevention/about/what-you-should-know-about-xylazine.html
NIDA. 2021, June 1. Fentanyl DrugFacts. Retrieved from https://nida.nih.gov/publications/drugfacts/fentanyl
https://www.cdc.gov/stop-overdose/caring/fentanyl-facts.html
https://www.cdc.gov/overdose-prevention/about/what-you-should-know-about-xylazine.html
Materials adapted for Rise Above Opioids from:
NIDA. 2021, June 1. Prescription Opioids DrugFacts. Retrieved from https://nida.nih.gov/publications/drugfacts/prescription-opioids
NIDA. 2021, June 1. Fentanyl DrugFacts. Retrieved from https://nida.nih.gov/publications/drugfacts/fentanyl
https://www.cdc.gov/stop-overdose/caring/fentanyl-facts.html
https://www.cdc.gov/overdose-prevention/about/what-you-should-know-about-xylazine.html
NIDA. 2021, June 1. Fentanyl DrugFacts. Retrieved from https://nida.nih.gov/publications/drugfacts/fentanyl
https://www.cdc.gov/stop-overdose/caring/fentanyl-facts.html
https://www.cdc.gov/overdose-prevention/about/what-you-should-know-about-xylazine.html
Materials adapted for Rise Above Opioids from:
NIDA. 2021, June 1. Prescription Opioids DrugFacts. Retrieved from https://nida.nih.gov/publications/drugfacts/prescription-opioids
NIDA. 2021, June 1. Fentanyl DrugFacts. Retrieved from https://nida.nih.gov/publications/drugfacts/fentanyl
https://www.cdc.gov/stop-overdose/caring/fentanyl-facts.html
https://www.cdc.gov/overdose-prevention/about/what-you-should-know-about-xylazine.html
NIDA. 2021, June 1. Fentanyl DrugFacts. Retrieved from https://nida.nih.gov/publications/drugfacts/fentanyl
https://www.cdc.gov/stop-overdose/caring/fentanyl-facts.html
https://www.cdc.gov/overdose-prevention/about/what-you-should-know-about-xylazine.html
