Overdose Warning Signs and How to Respond

You’ve seen it on television dramas: someone slumped over, unresponsive, with a loved one frantically trying to wake them, unsure of what to do. For too many Americans, this isn’t fiction; it’s reality. 

An overdose is a life-or-death situation, which is why it’s critically important to learn the signs and proper response for a suspected overdose. Keep reading to learn what to look for — and what to do next.

How widespread is the overdose crisis in America?

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, there were an estimated 80,000 overdose deaths in the U.S. in 2024. While overdose deaths are fortunately trending downward, dipping more than 26% from the approximately 110,000 deaths the year prior, overdose deaths remain a leading cause of death for adults ages 18-45. 

In Oklahoma, overdose deaths have topped 1,000 annually since 2022. Tulsa County in particular has one of the highest overdose death rates in the state, where drug overdose death rates increased 45% over a 10 year period, according to the Oklahoma State Department of Health. These aren’t just statistics; these numbers are evidence of a growing mental and public health crisis. 

Which substances are driving overdose deaths?

The most commonly-cited substances for overdoses in Oklahoma include methamphetamine, opioids, cocaine, alcohol, and benzodiazepines such as Xanax, Klonopin and Valium. Often, overdoses involve more than one substance. 

Overdoses of the highly-potent synthetic opioid known as Fentanyl have surged in recent years; it’s the substance that causes the most unintentional drug overdose deaths in much of the country. Just a few grams of Fentanyl is potent enough to cause an overdose in an adult male, and users may not even know they’re consuming it because it is often mixed into counterfeit pills. It can be lethal with the first use: it’s 50 times stronger than heroin.

Who is at risk for overdose?

Older adults are less likely to survive an overdose than young people, but overdose deaths among teens have dramatically risen in the past 15 years due to the potency of drugs like Fentanyl. In Oklahoma, males are more than twice as likely to die from drug overdose than females. Social and health disparities within Black, Indigenous, and People of Color (BIPOC) communities put these groups at greater risk of overdose. 

To be clear, overdoses can happen to anyone: every age, ethnic group and tax bracket. Overdose can happen from a single Fentanyl-laced pill at a party. 

In Oklahoma, overdose deaths have topped 1,000 annually since 2022.

What are the warning signs of an overdose? 

It’s critical to learn the signs of an overdose so that you can take action that could potentially save someone’s life. Someone may be experiencing an overdose if they exhibit the following symptoms:

• Slowed or stopped breathing

• Choking or gurgling

• Blue or purple lips or fingertips

• Small, pinpoint pupils

• Difficulty waking or completely unresponsive/unconscious, even when shaken or jostled

What are some practical ways families and communities can help prevent overdoses?

An overdose is always an emergency. If you suspect an overdose, dial 911 right away and stay with the person until help arrives. If you suspect opioids are involved and have access to Naloxone — a lifesaving nasal spray used to rapidly reverse the effects of an opioid overdose — you should administer it while you wait for help to arrive. 

Prevention is key. Make it a priority to have open conversations at home about substance use, mental health, and the importance of not taking pills given to you at parties or by anyone other than a physician. Be sure to properly secure all medications in your home, and if you have no use for them, dispose of them properly at a drug-take back event, a local pharmacy or envelope.

If you or a loved one is at great risk of an overdose, it may be time to seek professional help. At CTI-OK, we offer a wide variety of treatment services to help individuals and families understand and battle substance use, from ambulatory detox to sober living.

For more about our individualized services, visit CTI-OK.org or call us at 918-384-0002.