Helping Someone Overdosing and Opioid Treatment at Purpose
Witnessing an overdose can cause a state of panic. For many, however, there are worries about getting in trouble for calling 9-1-1. You might be wondering if your friend, your loved one, or yourself can be charged with possession of drugs or paraphernalia or if you should try to hide everything before calling. Unfortunately, this is a situation where every second counts.
So, what is the Good Samaritan Law on overdoses? These laws protect both the person overdosing and the person who calls for help in an emergency. They make it possible to help without fear of legal consequences.
The steps you take after a friend or loved one overdoses (or when helping a stranger) can make the difference between life and death. Keep reading to learn more about how to help someone overdosing and convince your loved one to seek help at Purpose Healing, so they never end up in this terrifying situation again.
How Overdose Good Samaritan Laws Protect
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, more than 81,000 Americans died by drug overdose in 2022. For some, this happened because overdose witnesses didn’t seek medical assistance because they were afraid of the consequences.
Good Samaritan laws vary by state. According to Good Samaritan drug overdose laws in Arizona, both the person who calls 9-1-1 and the person overdosing cannot be penalized for possession of paraphernalia or minor drug possession.
Keep in mind that Overdose Good Samaritan laws only apply to possession and paraphernalia, not other drug-related crimes. If an overdose were to cause a car accident, for example, there could still be charges brought forth for causing an accident.
What You Should Do During an Overdose
Someone experiencing an overdose will be unresponsive and may not be breathing. Other signs include slowed or shallow breathing, slowed heart rate, small pupils, low blood pressure, and skin that is pale or blue. Call for emergency medical assistance immediately.
If you know the person has a history of opioid use or if there is drugs or paraphernalia present, this information can also be used to diagnose an overdose and should be reported to EMTs and other first responders.
A sternum rub can also be used to detect opioid overdoses. Rub their sternum with your knuckles to see if they respond. If there is no response, know they (and you) are protected by Overdose Good Samaritan law and seek medical assistance.
The Role of Naloxone in Opioid Overdose
After contacting emergency services, administer naloxone while waiting for medical assistance if you have it. Naloxone reverses overdoses caused by opioids including street drugs like heroin, prescription opioids, and synthetic opioids like fentanyl.
Good Samaritan overdose prevention laws often accompany Naloxone access laws. These are legal interventions to reduce overdose deaths among drug users. This makes it easy to access and keep naloxone, especially if you have a loved one at risk of opioid overdoses.
Naloxone, also known as Narcan, works like a spray. Insert it into one nostril and gently pinch both sides of the nose to seal it before pressing on the plunger.
You should never abandon someone following a drug overdose, especially being protected by Good Samaritan laws. Naloxone can have sobering effects and this might cause the person who has overdosed to seek out more opioids, especially as they start to come down and experience withdrawal.
Giving Rescue Breaths
While preparing naloxone, you must administer rescue breaths if the person is not breathing. Ensure their mouth and airway are clear before the following steps.
Tilt their head back by placing one hand on their chin. Then, pinch their nose shut and give them two breaths. If you are doing it properly, their chest should be rising.
Do this for at least thirty seconds after administering naloxone, one breath per five seconds. If they are still not breathing, you may need to administer a second dose of naloxone. This happens with a high dose of opioids and is common when a person unknowingly takes fentanyl or takes more than intended.
Do not leave them alone, even if they come to consciousness before medical help arrives. They may not know about Overdose Good Samaritan laws and the protections offered.
Encouraging Your Friend or Loved One to Seek Help
The presence of fentanyl in pressed prescription painkillers, heroin, and other drugs is one of the major reasons that the overdose death rate increased in the last decade. Fentanyl has made struggling with substance use more dangerous than ever.
Even when your loved one gets clean, it only takes relapsing once to put them at risk of an overdose. This is why the place that they choose for detox and rehabilitation matters.
In Arizona, Purpose Healing Center is a Joint Commission-accredited treatment facility that accepts nearly all forms of AHCCCS, Arizona Medicaid, and other commercial and public health insurance.
We make it easy for anyone to seek treatment following opioid overdoses.
Purpose also works with the homeless community in Maricopa County and across the state, helping secure stable housing following rehab whenever possible.
With support in place, a stable living environment, and the skills learned in our program, anyone struggling with drug and alcohol dependence can overcome their battles and live life without the fear of opioid overdoses.
Our customized, evidence-based programs offer your loved one the best chance at achieving long-term sobriety after addiction. Do more than just get them medical assistance – encourage them to let this be their wake up call and seek treatment before it’s too late.
Get Help Following Overdose at Purpose Healing Center
Knowledge of Good Samaritan and Naloxone Access laws helps reduce overdose mortality. They protect you and your loved one from prosecution for drug possession or paraphernalia following an overdose.
These laws are meant to reduce the opioid overdose death rate and encourage people to seek medical assistance without being afraid of how law enforcement officers will respond.
With this in mind, you can feel confident when you seek medical assistance – but what you do next is critical. Don’t allow your loved one or the person you have helped to become a statistic in the ongoing opioid epidemic-contact Purpose Healing Center today.
One of our experts is waiting by the phone, ready to discuss treatment options, verify insurance, set up a tour of our facilities, or schedule a time for intake.
All calls are confidential, so please reach out (or provide our contact information) following an overdose to provide an effective path to recovery.
480-579-3319