Overdose response
Get naloxone
Call 911
Substance use & recovery support
You’re not alone. Help is available at every step. Whatever recovery means for you, we’re here.
Where to start
Treatment and harm reduction are both valid, equally supported paths. Neither one is a lesser choice.
Treatment & recovery
Detox, medication for opioid use disorder, outpatient care, residential treatment, and mutual support.
Harm reduction
Naloxone, fentanyl test strips, safer use information, and syringe services — for anyone who uses, regardless of treatment plans.
Medication for Opioid Use Disorder (MOUD)
Buprenorphine (Suboxone), methadone, and naltrexone reduce overdose death by about 50%. MOUD is medicine, not “trading addictions” — that’s a misconception that costs lives.
Overdose response
If you think someone may be overdosing, act immediately. You cannot get in trouble for calling 911 to report an overdose — Good Samaritan laws protect callers in most states.
- Call 911 immediately. Tell them the person isn’t breathing or is unresponsive.
- Give naloxone if you have it — nasal spray or injection, following the package instructions. It’s safe to give even if you’re not certain it’s an opioid overdose.
- Try to keep them breathing and stay with them until help arrives.
- Place them on their side (recovery position) if they’re breathing but unresponsive, to prevent choking.
- A second dose of naloxone may be needed after 2-3 minutes if there’s no response.
- Stay until EMS arrives. Naloxone wears off before some opioids do — the person can go back into overdose after it wears off.
Harm reduction
These tools reduce death and infection risk for anyone who uses — regardless of whether or when they plan to stop.
Naloxone (Narcan)
Reverses opioid overdose. Available without a prescription in most states. Get it before you need it.
Fentanyl test strips
Check substances for fentanyl before use. Legality varies by state.
Syringe services
Sterile supplies reduce infection risk. Many programs also connect to treatment when someone’s ready.
Never Use Alone
A hotline that stays on the phone with you while you use, so someone can call for help if needed. 1-800-484-3731.
Just left the ER, hospital, or withdrawal management?
The first 7 days after any high-intensity care for substance use are when the risk of ending up back there is highest. If you were just diagnosed, getting into treatment within 14 days — and staying with at least 2 more visits over the next month — makes a real, measurable difference.
Don’t wait for a call that might not come
Being proactive about this is one of the most effective things you can do for your own recovery. If you were told “the office will call you” or “you should have an appointment,” confirming it yourself is the surest way to know it’s on the calendar.
- Before you leave, ask for an exact date and time. Not “will someone call me” — ask “what is the date and time of my follow-up, right now?” If they can’t give you one, ask who to call yourself.
- Get the number before you walk out. Write it down or put it in your phone.
- If nobody’s called within 1-2 days, call them. You’re not being a burden — calling yourself is the fix, not an inconvenience.
- If medication for opioid use disorder was started (buprenorphine, methadone, or naltrexone), staying on it matters — the first weeks are when people are most likely to stop early, and that’s also when overdose risk is highest.
- If you can’t get an appointment within 7 days, ask specifically for the soonest available, or ask about telehealth MOUD providers, which can often move faster.
- For the full 30-day plan, visit our Recovery Support hub.
You are not “being that patient”
It’s easy to feel like you’ve used up your turn to ask for anything more, especially after a hospital stay or a hard conversation about your use. Calling to follow up isn’t high-maintenance. It’s you participating in your own care — exactly what a good care team wants from you.
If withdrawal is involved
Withdrawal looks very different depending on the substance — some kinds are medical emergencies, others aren’t.
Alcohol or benzodiazepines
Withdrawal can be a medical emergency, including seizures. Don’t stop suddenly without medical supervision — go to an ER or contact your provider.
Opioids
Rarely life-threatening on its own, but very uncomfortable. Medication for opioid use disorder (MOUD) can prevent withdrawal entirely — that’s one of the reasons it works.
Stimulants
Primarily a psychological experience — fatigue, low mood, and cravings. Watch for new suicidal thoughts and reach out for support if they appear.
Treatment options
For context, not a recommendation — your provider will help choose what fits your situation.
| Treatment type | What it does | When it’s used |
|---|---|---|
| MOUD — Buprenorphine | Treats opioid use disorder; partial opioid agonist | First-line for opioid use disorder; many providers prescribe |
| MOUD — Methadone | Treats opioid use disorder; full opioid agonist | First-line; opioid treatment programs only |
| MOUD — Naltrexone (Vivitrol) | Blocks opioid effects | Some opioid use disorder; alcohol use disorder |
| Alcohol use disorder medications | Reduce craving / drinking | Alcohol use disorder |
| Behavioral therapies | Behavioral change | All substance use disorders |
| Detoxification | Safe withdrawal management | Initial step for some; medical supervision when indicated |
| Outpatient treatment | Weekly therapy + medication | Many patients; appropriate severity |
| Intensive outpatient (IOP) | ~9 hours/week | Moderate severity |
| Residential treatment | 24/7 for weeks to months | Severe or environmental barriers |
| Mutual support (12-step, SMART, others) | Peer-led community | Adjunctive; sometimes stand-alone |
The information here describes how a class of medications generally works and what to discuss with your provider or pharmacist. It is not a prescription, a recommendation of a specific drug or dose, or instructions to start, stop, or change any medication. Decisions about medications belong to you and your prescribing clinician.
Building your care team
Worried about someone else?
Supporting someone with substance use is hard, and you don’t have to have all the answers.
What helps
Keep naloxone in the house if opioids are involved. Stay connected rather than issuing ultimatums. Take care of your own wellbeing too — supporting someone doesn’t mean losing yourself.
Language matters
“Person with a substance use disorder,” not “addict.” “Currently using,” not “still using” or “clean/dirty.” Small shifts in language reduce stigma and keep the door open for someone to come back to you.
Ready to find care?
Search for a MOUD provider, treatment program, or harm reduction service near you.
SynquUp does not diagnose substance use disorder. This page helps you recognize patterns that warrant urgent or emergency care. If your situation matches the patterns described, the right next step is the emergency action shown — not more questions, not waiting, not a SynquUp follow-up. If you are not sure, treat the situation as urgent and contact emergency services.