Depressant drug overdose signs 

• unconsciousness (won’t wake with a shout or a shake) 
• unable to speak or respond 
• shallow (or slowed) breathing 
• snoring or rasping breaths
• nausea and vomiting
• seizures
• blue lips 
• pale skin 
• pin-point pupils (sign of opioid use)

People may be taking a combination of drugs with different effects and the signs may not be as clear cut as the above. Some people may display all overdose signs, others will have one or two. 

In an emergency 

• Check if the person is conscious by shaking them and loudly calling their name or asking if they’re okay. 
• If the person does not respond, check they are breathing.  
• If there’s no response, stay calm and call 999. 
• Ask for an ambulance. Give as much information as you can and be honest about what was taken – you won’t get in trouble for getting help.  
• The call handler will stay on the line and talk you through what to do. If you are by yourself, put them on speakerphone to leave your hands free.
• Speak to the person, reassure them and talk them through what you are doing. They may be able to hear you even if they can’t respond.
• Administer naloxone if you have it (see naloxone guidance below). 
• For people who are unresponsive and breathing, put them in the recovery position (on their side with their head tilted back) and monitor breathing. 
• For people who are unresponsive and not breathing, start chest compressions. If you have someone there, ask them to get a defibrillator. 
• Stay with the person until help arrives. 

Learn more about drug overdose and emergency first aid: 

• Unresponsive and breathing patient (British Red Cross)
• Unresponsive and not breathing patient (British Red Cross) 
• Drugs: what you need to know (NHS inform) 
• Stop The Deaths (Scottish Drugs Forum) 
• Overdose (Crew) 

Naloxone 

Naloxone is an effective, life-saving medicine that can temporarily reverse the effects of an opioid overdose.

Although benzodiazepines are not opioids, naloxone should always be administered if the person is overdosing and is unresponsive. Many overdoses involve both benzos and opioids and reversing the effects of one drug may be enough to bring the person round.  Even if it doesn’t help, it will do no harm. 

In Scotland, naloxone is available at some pharmacies and drug services. It can also be ordered online for home delivery from Scottish Families Affected by Alcohol and Drugs.