Stay Safer

Learn how to stay safer if you use substances.

HOW TO STAY SAFESigns of an OverdoseHow to Stop an OverdoseNaloxone FactsWhere to Get Naloxone

HOW TO STAY SAFE

Only take pills that are prescribed to you

Sometimes, people use substances like fake pills to cope with pain, stress, anxiety, or other mental health issues. Or, people may use drugs because they are curious and want to experiment. If you think medication could help you, talk to a health care professional. Don’t use or buy pills that are not prescribed to you. Don’t use pills unless you are sure they came from a pharmacy, and do not take pills from friends or family, even if they say they are real.

Fake prescription pills may contain dangerous amounts of fentanyl, which can cause an overdose.

Be cautious, use less, and don’t mix substances

Because many drugs might contain potentially harmful amounts of fentanyl, it is important to be cautious. Fentanyl is 50 times stronger than heroin, and even very small amounts can cause an overdose.

People can overdose by injecting, snorting, or smoking fentanyl or by taking other drugs that contain fentanyl that was mixed in. Because fentanyl acts fast, injection carries a higher risk of overdose. No matter how you use substances, go slowly and take time between doses. (Source) Always test any drug using fentanyl test strips before using it.

Do not mix substances like fake prescription pills and other drugs like cocaine, heroin, or meth because they all could contain dangerous amounts of fentanyl, increasing your risk of an overdose. Avoid drinking alcohol while using any other drugs.

Test for fentanyl

Test strips are a fast, inexpensive, and easy way to test if a drug has fentanyl in it. Test strips are made out of paper with a special coating that will react if it comes into contact with fentanyl. Test strips can help you find out if a drug has fentanyl in it, but they won’t show how much fentanyl is there, so it is still important to be cautious.

Test strips can help keep you safe, but they won’t guarantee that a drug is safe. If a test strip is negative, there may be a chance that the drug could have some fentanyl in it.

Learn how to use test strips. Test strips are legal in Colorado. You can order test strips online or find them at syringe access programs.

SIGNS OF AN OVERDOSE

KNOW THE SIGNS OF AN OVERDOSE

A fentanyl overdose can happen fast, so it is important to act quickly. Remember that someone might accidentally take fentanyl that was mixed into other drugs. Signs of an overdose include:

Unresponsiveness – unable to talk, very sleepy, or passing out
Not breathing, or slow or shallow breathing
Pale, gray, or bluish skin, lips, or nails
Very small or tiny pupils
Limp body
Cold or clammy skin
Snoring, choking, or gurgling sounds
Muscle spasms or locked, rigid arms and legs (source)
Rigid chest or ribs (source)

WHAT TO DO

If you are with someone who might be having an overdose, here’s what to do:

Give them naloxone, if you have it
Call 911 
Stay with the person. Try to keep them awake and breathing.
Lay the person on their side in the recovery position to help prevent choking.  
Wait until the emergency responders arrive. In Colorado, you are protected from liability and certain drug possession penalties by the 911 Good Samaritan Law if you provide help to someone you believe is experiencing an overdose and stay on the scene

If you cannot call 911, give the person naloxone (if you have it) and put the person in the recovery position before you leave them to find someone who can call. If you can stay with or return to the person, do so. If you cannot stay with the person before help arrives, make sure that you leave all doors unlocked and open so the person can be found more easily.

HOW TO STOP AN OVERDOSE

HOW TO USE NALOXONE NASAL SPRAY

If you are helping someone with symptoms of an overdose, always call 911. Give them naloxone while you wait for help to arrive.

The most commonly used form of naloxone is a nasal spray, which means the medicine is given to the person up their nose. You will not hurt someone or cause them pain by giving them naloxone. You will not get hurt or be exposed to fentanyl by giving someone naloxone. Before giving someone naloxone, read the instructions on the package.

Peel open the container. 
Put the nozzle into one of the person’s nostrils. It does not matter which one.
Press the plunger to release the dose.
Wait two to three minutes and stay with the person. Give them rescue breaths (two breaths every 5 seconds) while you wait for first responders to show up. If they do not respond, if their breathing has stopped, or if their breathing is very slow or difficult, you may need to give them another dose. If the individual has no pulse, breathing has stopped, and you are trained, you can give CPR.

For more detailed information on how to give someone naloxone,  watch these educational videos from Prescribe to Prevent.

Naloxone Facts

To give someone naloxone, follow the instructions on the package.

Naloxone is most often available as a nasal spray, which you can give to someone by spraying it into their nose. Sometimes naloxone comes in as an injectable, but this is less common. Always follow the instructions on the package before you give someone naloxone.

If you experience an overdose, you will not be able to give yourself naloxone.

Never use drugs that have not been prescribed to you alone, and make sure the people you are with can call for help and know how to give you naloxone if needed.

It is safe to give someone naloxone

even if you aren’t sure if the person with overdose symptoms took fentanyl or any other type of opioid.

Expired naloxone is better than none. (Source: NEXTDistro)

If you have naloxone that has expired, it is okay to give it to someone who may be experiencing an overdose.

Where to get  naloxone in Colorado

Most pharmacies in Colorado, including major chains, sell naloxone. You can find a map of pharmacies at StopTheClockColorado.org. You can learn more about naloxone access at BringNaloxoneHome.org.

Many insurance plans, including  Medicaid, Medicare, and private insurance, cover naloxone.

Not every pharmacy outlet might have naloxone in stock all the time, but if you ask the pharmacy, they can order it for you or or send you to a pharmacy with naloxone in stock. You also can call ahead to confirm that naloxone is in stock. 
If pharmacy staff ask you for a prescription, tell them about Colorado’s standing order. A standing order allows any person in Colorado to access and buy naloxone without a prescription. More information about the standing order can be found on CDPHE’s website. 
Pharmacists and pharmacy technicians should know about naloxone. If they don’t, tell them naloxone is the medication that reverses opioid overdoses. You can direct them to the FDA website for information about naloxone.

FIND NALOXONE