Opioid overdose is an ongoing concern across the country, and Minnesota is no exception. In 2022, Hennepin County saw its highest number of opioid-related deaths to date, mirroring a disturbing nationwide trend. Unfortunately, today’s opioid users are especially susceptible to overdose deaths thanks to one factor: fentanyl.

While prescription opioids are addictive, they’re also pure and pre-dosed. Meanwhile, illegally obtained opioids—including heroin—can be particularly dangerous because users don’t know exactly what they’re consuming. Illegally manufactured fentanyl can be cut into other drugs (from heroin to cocaine) or packaged to look like prescription medication, and the illicit substance is extremely powerful. 

Because of its intense effects, even tiny doses of illegal fentanyl can be extremely harmful. In 2022, the most recent year of available data, Hennepin County saw 377 opioid-related deaths, 358 of which also involved fentanyl. 

Steps to prevent overdose

If you or someone you love is using non-prescription opioids, to prevent overdose use fentanyl test strips. The resource is legal in Minnesota and can quickly detect dangerous fentanyl in your product.  

Additionally, Hennepin County and organizations throughout Minnesota have a robust and trustworthy network of opioid addiction and overdose prevention resources. Here’s where to seek help: 

  • Get free fentanyl test strips and overdose response training from the Steve Rummler HOPE Network.
  • Get free test strips, sterile syringes, HIV testing, and more resources through NorthPoint Health & Wellness.
  • Get free, remote opioid and naloxone education from the Hennepin County Sheriff’s Office.

How to recognize an opioid overdose

While not everyone experiencing an overdose will display all of these symptoms, these signs are a good indicator that someone is overdosing: The person is unresponsive to loud noise or touch; their skin, lips or fingernails are discolored; their pupils are shrunken; their breathing or heart rate has dramatically slowed or stopped entirely; they’re making a gurgling or rattling sound.

If you can’t tell whether a person is experiencing an overdose, assume that they are—and act accordingly.

How to respond to an opioid overdose

When you realize someone is overdosing, there are several steps you can take to help them recover. But before we talk about that process, let’s talk about naloxone. 

Naloxone, commonly known as Narcan, is a medication that can effectively reverse an overdose. A dose of Narcan stops an opioid from attaching to the brain’s opioid receptors, often helping people who have overdosed to begin breathing again and stop experiencing an opioid’s effects.

Narcan can be given as a shot, nasal spray or IV, but the nasal spray is the form created for public use. It’s completely legal to carry and administer naloxone in Minnesota, and it’s important to do so, since even fentanyl will respond to Narcan.

If you suspect someone has overdosed on opioids but are unsure, you can still administer Narcan. Your recipient won’t suffer any negative effects from a Narcan dose if they aren’t overdosing on opioids, and if they are, it could save their life. 

If they’ve just overdosed, your recipient won’t feel great after a Narcan dose revives them—they’ll be experiencing withdrawals and could respond with anything from anxiety to aggression. Narcan only lasts 30 to 45 minutes, so it’s critical that you call 911 for someone who has overdosed even if you manage to revive them. 

Before you give someone Narcan, check them for responsiveness. Yell their name or loudly tell them you’re calling 911, then give them a firm sternum rub by making a fist and rubbing on their breastbone using your knuckles. The sternum rub will hurt and will elicit a response if the person is conscious. 

If you’re still not getting a response, it’s time to call 911 and administer rescue breathing. Be sure to tell the dispatcher exactly where you are and what the overdosing person is experiencing, making it abundantly clear if they are not breathing. 

To give rescue breathing: 

  • Put the person on their back, tilting their head back and supporting their neck.
  • Pinch their nose shut. 
  • Put your mouth on theirs and create a seal.
  • Give them one breath every five seconds, repeating this for 30 seconds.

If the person doesn’t respond, administer Narcan using the following steps: 

  • Take your Narcan out of its packaging and do not test it.
  • Hold your Narcan with three fingers, placing your thumb against the bottom of the plunger and your index and middle fingers against the nozzle.
  • Fully insert the nozzle into one nostril, then press up on the plunger with your thumb to administer a spray.
  • Do not immediately administer a second dose. Wait two minutes to see if the person responds at all, and give another dose using the same steps if two minutes pass with no change.

If you are not getting a response after two doses, try to keep administering rescue breaths until emergency response gets there. If they begin to breathe, put the person in a safe position. Roll them on their side, then support them with their hand under their head and their top knee bent to prop them up.

An opioid overdose is scary, but a well-timed dose of Narcan can often keep the experience from turning fatal. Explore Hennepin County’s resources to learn more about preventing and treating opioid addiction and overdose in Minnesota.