How to Teach Family Members to Recognize Overdose Symptoms

Every year, more than 100,000 people in the U.S. die from drug overdoses-and nearly 8 out of 10 of those happen at home. That means the person who’s most likely to save a life during an overdose isn’t a paramedic. It’s a sibling, a parent, a partner, or a child. If someone you love uses drugs-even occasionally-teaching your family how to spot an overdose could mean the difference between life and death.

What an Overdose Really Looks Like

Many people think someone overdosing is just really drunk or high. That’s not true. An overdose means the body can’t keep up. Breathing slows down or stops. The brain isn’t getting oxygen. Minutes matter.

For opioids like heroin, fentanyl, or prescription painkillers, there are three clear signs: unresponsiveness, slow or no breathing, and blue or gray lips and fingernails. This is called the opioid triad. But there are other clues too: the person might be limp, like a ragdoll. Their skin might feel cold and clammy. You might hear a gurgling sound-like they’re drowning in their own saliva. That’s not just being sick. That’s their airway closing.

For stimulants like cocaine or meth, the signs are different. The person might be sweating heavily, shaking, or having a seizure. Their heart races. Their body temperature soars past 104°F. They might panic, scream, or become violent. It looks like a medical emergency-and it is.

The biggest mistake? Assuming they’ll wake up if you shake them. If they don’t respond to a sternum rub (firmly rubbing the center of their chest with your knuckles), they’re not just passed out. They’re overdosing. And time is running out.

Why Family Training Works-And Why It’s Not Optional

Studies show that when family members are trained, overdose deaths drop by up to 40%. Why? Because they’re already there. Emergency services take 8 to 10 minutes to arrive. In that time, a person can die.

Training isn’t about scaring people. It’s about giving them tools. A 2023 study of over 2,800 families found that those who practiced with training kits were 89% more likely to remember what to do three months later. Those who only watched videos? Only 42% remembered.

Real families say the same thing: “I didn’t think I’d ever need this.” Then they used it. One father in Ohio reversed his son’s overdose with Narcan after practicing with a training kit three times. He said, “I knew exactly what to do because I’d done it before-not in my head, but with my hands.”

How to Teach It: The Recognize-Respond-Revive Method

The best training doesn’t just tell people what to do. It lets them do it. Use this three-step method:

1. Recognize - Teach the signs. Use photos or videos that show different skin tones. Blue lips on fair skin look different than grayish skin on darker skin. Many people miss overdoses because they’re only taught to look for one color change. Show them both.
2. Respond - Show them how to call 911. Tell them to say, “I think someone is overdosing. They’re not breathing.” Don’t let them hesitate. Emphasize: 911 won’t arrest them. In 31 states, Good Samaritan laws protect people who call for help.
3. Revive - Practice giving naloxone. Use a training device that looks and feels like the real thing. There’s no needle. Just spray one dose into each nostril. Then, give rescue breaths-two every five seconds-until help arrives or they wake up.

What You Need to Get Started

You don’t need a clinic or a doctor. Here’s what you need at home:

• Two naloxone training kits (around $35 each). These are identical to the real thing, but won’t deliver medicine. They’re used for practice.
• A mannequin or even a pillow to practice rescue breathing on.
• Printed cards with the signs of overdose-put one on the fridge.
• A skin tone guide. The CDC and California Health Department offer free ones online. Print them.

You can get these kits for free from local harm reduction groups, public health departments, or even pharmacies in 31 states without a prescription. Call your county health office. Ask: “Do you have free naloxone training for families?”

What to Do If Someone Overdoses

If you ever need to act:

1. Shout their name. Shake their shoulder. Rub their sternum hard with your knuckles. If they don’t respond, assume overdose.
2. Call 911. Say: “Overdose. Not breathing.” Don’t hang up.
3. Give one dose of naloxone in each nostril. Push the plunger all the way in.
4. Start rescue breathing: tilt the head back, lift the chin, pinch the nose, give two breaths every five seconds.
5. If they don’t wake up in 3 minutes, give a second dose of naloxone.
6. Stay with them. Even if they wake up, they can crash again. Wait for EMS.

Common Mistakes and How to Avoid Them

Families often make these errors:

• Waiting to see if they “snap out of it.” Don’t. Every minute without oxygen kills brain cells.
• Thinking naloxone is a cure-all. It only works on opioids. It won’t help with cocaine or meth. But it still needs to be given-because many overdoses involve mixed drugs.
• Being afraid to use it. Naloxone is safe. Even if they didn’t overdose, it won’t hurt them.
• Not practicing. Stress makes you forget. Practice twice. Once with the training kit, once with a friend playing the role of the person overdosing.

How to Talk About It Without Scaring People

This is hard. People feel guilty. They think talking about overdose means they’re giving up on their loved one. That’s not true. Talking about it means you’re fighting for them.

Try this: “I love you. I don’t want to lose you. If something happens, I want to know what to do. Let’s learn together.”

Don’t make it a lecture. Make it a family safety plan-like fire drills. Keep the training kits with your first aid supplies. Put the card on the fridge. Practice once every few months.

What Happens After You Save a Life

Surviving an overdose doesn’t mean the crisis is over. The person might need medical care, counseling, or detox. But they’re alive. That’s the first step.

Many families report feeling empowered after training. One mother in Georgia said: “I used to feel helpless. Now I know I can act. That changed everything.”

The goal isn’t to fix addiction. The goal is to keep someone alive until they’re ready to get help.

Next Steps: What to Do Today

1. Call your local health department. Ask: “Do you offer free family overdose training or naloxone kits?” 2. Order two training kits online or pick them up at a pharmacy. 3. Print a skin tone guide from the CDC website. 4. Set a time this week to practice with one family member-just 15 minutes. 5. Keep the kits with your first aid supplies. Don’t hide them. Make them visible.

This isn’t about fear. It’s about being ready. Someone you love could be the next person who needs you to know what to do. Don’t wait until it’s too late. Learn now. Practice now. Save a life later.