Opioid Overdose Prevention

First published November 2015
Updated November 2025

Unintentional drug overdose is the 3^rd leading cause of death among children and adolescents in the US. Overall, youth substance use has decreased but there has been over 120% increase in adolescent overdose deaths from 2010-2021. Most of these youth do not have a substance use disorder and have never had a prior overdose. 

The main driver of adolescent overdose is the synthetic opioid, fentanyl. Fentanyl has infiltrated the drug supply and can be found in every substance on the market. The DEA reports that 7 out of 10 pills bought for recreational use contain fentanyl. Even if an adolescent is not desiring to use an opioid, they may come across a substance that contains it and overdose.

It is important that adolescents and their families receive opioid overdose education as well as access to the opioid reversal agent, naloxone. In Ohio, the Good Samaritan law provides civil and criminal immunity to individuals administering naloxone if they believe a person is experiencing an opioid overdose. Naloxone will NOT hurt someone if they have not overdosed from an opioid and it is given.

Adolescents and parents should discuss with their provider how they can have access to naloxone so that they can keep themselves, their family and friends, and their community safe from opioid overdose.

You can also go to the website www.harmreductionohio.org to order free naloxone to be delivered to your home.

Responding to an Opioid Overdose

1. Recognize Overdose
   1. No response if you shake them or call their name
   2. Slow or stopped breathing
   3. Blue or gray lips and fingernails
   4. Pale face, cold and clammy
2. Call 911 if No Response
   1. Use sternal rub. Press firmly on their chest with knuckles and rub up and down. If no response, call 911
   2. Be specific – “The person stopped breathing and are not responding to commands”
3. Give Naloxone
   1. Lay person on their back
   2. Hold naloxone nasal spray with your thumb on the bottom of the plunger and your first and middle fingers on either side of the nozzle
   3. Insert the tip of the nozzle in either nostril until your fingers touch the bottom of person’s nose
   4. Press plunger firmly to release the dose
4. Place Person in Recovery Position
   1. Turn person on their side with knees bent