Presented By:
Mary Wheeler
Street Outreach Coordinator
CAB Health and Recovery Services Inc.,
Lynn, MA
On average 2 people a day die of an opiate overdose in Massachusetts.
New England’s opiate use is 35% higher than the rest of the US.
In 2008 a reported 644 people died from drug overdose.
The Narcan program in MA has reversed
over 500 overdoses.
The 500 overdose reversals were primarily done
by active drug users to other active drug users.
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
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Fentanyl and Methadone are synthetic

Regular use leads to tolerance
opioids (man-made)

People must take higher doses to feel
Heroin, Percoset, Vicodin and Oxycontin
effects
are semi-synthetic opioids

Severe withdrawals
Opiates and Opioids are used for

Euphoria, warm, relaxed, dry mouth,
primarily pain management
pinned pupils, nausea/vomiting,
Used for people with chronic pain (ex.
suppresion of the nervous system, “rush”,
cancer or HIV/AIDS)
“nod”
Easily and widely abused

Opiates can be swallowed in pill form,
drank in liquid form, smoked, snorted or
injected
 Benzodiazepines (Xanax, Klonopin, Ativan, valium etc.,)
 Clonidine
 Neurontin
 Cocaine
 Alcohol
 Marijuana
 Meth, Ecstasy, Acid, Mushrooms, Special K, Inhalants
 Adderall, Ritalin
 Cough syrup and cough medicine
 Motion sickness pills
What Can
Happen?
Disfigurement from
long-time use.
Severe health issues
such as depression,
anxiety, panic
disorder, HIV/AIDS,
Hepatitis A, B, C.
Criminal record.
What Can
Happen?
Overdose related
health issues.
Fatal overdose of
friends, family etc,.

Too much of a drug

Shuts down your bodies main functions

Heart

Lungs

Brain

Liver

Unconscious for a long period of time
but not knowing how long

Black-out

Falling out on a hand, arm, leg etc.,
causing loss of circulation
 Abstinence
 Don’t Mix
 Be careful after a period of not using
 Getting out of jail or drug treatment
 Never use alone
 Know what you are taking
 Not breathing
 Irregular breathing
 Turning blue
 Shaking
 Sweating
 Seizure
 Can’t wake up
 Can’t talk
 Can’t hear
 Not responding to pain
 Are you ok?
 Check for breathing
 Sternum or Sternal Rub
 If no response call 9-1-1
 If they respond try to keep them talking
 No food or water
 Put them on their side in the recovery position
 If they do not respond do rescue breathing
 If you leave the scene make sure you have put them on their side
 Medication to reverse an
OPIOID overdose
 Blocks the drug for 20-90
minutes
 Starts the person breathing
 Works 100% if heart is beating
 Does not work on other types of
drugs
 You want Paramedics or
Advanced Life Support
 Calling 9-1-1 will alert medical,
fire and police
 Overdose is not a priority call,
respiratory arrest is.
 “Someone here has stopped
breathing.”
 “Someone here is in respiratory
arrest.”
 Give your address or location
 They can walk you through the
situation if you stay.
 Or you can say, “I know what to
do, see you soon.”
 Fear
 Drugs on them
 Guns/Weapons
 Warrants
 Don’t care
 Don’t want people to
know they use.
 Section 8
 Children
 Stay calm
 Get people out of the house
 If you have given the person
Narcan tell the medics
that do not need to be there
 If you know what drugs have
 Leave a door open so they can
been taken tell the medical
get in
 If you are giving the person
rescue breathing let the
medical people take over
people
 Body language
 Don’t resist
 Stay calm, don’t make sudden
 Don’t argue, be polite
moves
 Keep your hands where they can
be seen
 What you say CAN be used
against you, even if you are not
arrested.
 DO NOT RUN
 DO NOT touch the officer
 Do not say anything if you get
arrested
 Don’t give excuses or make up
stories
 Wait for a lawyer or parent
 You are entitled to a free lawyer
if you can’t afford one
 Knowingly being present
 Possession
 School zone violation
 Conspiracy to violate drug laws
 Voluntary manslaughter (if someone
dies)
 Lying to police/giving a fake name
 Probation/Parole Violation
 “Known drug user”
 What does it feel like to see an overdose?
 Who would you talk to if you see something like this?
 Who would you talk to if you overdose or a family member
overdoses?
 Do you have any questions, comments or concerns?