Recognize & respond | Friends for Life

Call 911 right away if you think
your friend is overdosing.

Washington state’s Good Samaritan laws protect you both from prosecution for drug possession.

Recognize & respond

Be there for your friends:

Learn how to spot the signs of an opioid overdose, respond to an overdose, and use naloxone to reverse an overdose.

Signs of an opioid overdose

Your friend may be overdosing if they:

Can’t wake up – Even when you call their name or shake them firmly.

Are breathing very slowly or not at all.

Are turning blue, gray, or purple.

Look ashen or feel cold to the touch.

How to help a friend who is overdosing

Illustration of cell phone with 911 dialed.

Call 911

If your friend is unresponsive, not breathing, or turning blue or gray, call 911 right away.

Illustration of narcan (naloxone) nasal spray.

Give naloxone

Give your friend one dose of naloxone every two to three minutes until their breathing is normal again. They should breathe once every three to five seconds. Do this even if you aren’t sure they took opioids.

Give rescue breaths

After you give the first dose of naloxone, lay your friend flat on the ground, tip their chin back, and provide one rescue breath every five seconds.

Check that their chest is rising and falling with each breath that you give.

Stay until help arrives. When your friend wakes up, they may be confused or not feel good. They should not take any more drugs, and they should get medical attention. Naloxone wears off within 30 – 90 minutes. When it wears off, they may begin to overdose again. If you don’t call 911, stay with your friend in case the naloxone wears off and they overdose again.

When all is said and done, remember to check in with yourself. You cared for your friend in a big way, and you deserve care too.

How to give nasal spray naloxone

Naloxone, also known as Narcan, is a medication that reverses opioid overdoses and saves lives.

Illustration of naloxone nasal spray box.

Open the packaging

Do not test the nasal spray. The canister only has one dose and cannot be reused.

Illustration of hand holding naloxone spray.

Hold the canister

Place your thumb on the bottom of the plunger and your first and middle fingers on either side of the nozzle.

Illustration of hand holding naloxone spray, spraying into nostril.

Insert the nozzle into your friend’s nostril

Your fingers on either side of the nozzle should touch the bottom of their nose.

Press the plunger all the way

Remove the nasal spray after giving the dose.

Digital wallet card

Save this image to your device for a quick-reference guide on how to recognize and respond to an overdose and step-by-step instructions on how to use naloxone.

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