Call 911 first for an overdose or a medical emergency
Call 911 if someone:
- Will not wake up, or is very hard to wake
- Has slow, weak or no breathing
- Is making choking or gurgling sounds
- Has tiny, pinpoint pupils, a limp body, or cold and clammy skin
- Has blue, gray or pale lips or nails
- Has a seizure, severe confusion, a high fever or is seeing things that are not there while stopping alcohol or other drugs
- Has tried to hurt themselves or is in danger of doing so right now
If you think someone is overdosing
- Call 911.
- Give naloxone (Narcan) if you have it. If they do not start breathing normally after 2 to 3 minutes, give a second dose if you have one.
- Try to keep them awake and breathing.
- Lay them on their side to prevent choking.
- Stay with them until help arrives. They still need emergency care, even if they wake up.
Naloxone is safe. It will not hurt someone who is not having an opioid overdose. You can buy naloxone nasal spray over the counter at most pharmacies, without a prescription. Learn more in our guide to medications and naloxone.
Good Samaritan laws: most states have laws that may protect a person who is overdosing, or the person who called for help, from some legal trouble. The details are different in each state. Please do not let fear stop you from calling 911.
988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline
988 is free, confidential and open 24/7. You can reach out about thoughts of suicide, a mental health crisis, a substance use crisis or any emotional distress. You can call for yourself, or if you are worried about someone else.
- Call: 988
- Text: 988
- Chat online: chat.988lifeline.org
- En español: llame al 988 y oprima 2, o envíe AYUDA al 988
- Veterans and service members: call 988 and press 1, or text 838255. You can also chat with the Veterans Crisis Line.
- Deaf or hard of hearing: TTY users can dial 711, then 988. The Lifeline also has ASL videophone and other options.
SAMHSA National Helpline
The SAMHSA National Helpline at 1-800-662-4357 is free, confidential, open 24/7, and available in English and Spanish. It provides treatment referrals and information for individuals and families facing mental health or substance use disorders.
Poison Control
Call 1-800-222-1222 if someone took too much of a medicine, took the wrong one, or swallowed something harmful. It is free and confidential, and experts answer 24/7. You can also use the webPOISONCONTROL online tool. If the person is not awake or is not breathing well, call 911 instead.
Find treatment
- FindTreatment.gov is SAMHSA's locator for state licensed treatment programs.
- On this site, you can browse programs by state or ask the concierge. Programs here list Medicaid, Medicare or both. Confirm your plan with the program.
If you are worried about someone
You can call or text 988 to talk about someone you love. Our guide on how to raise it without a blowup can help you plan what to say.
If they use opioids, keep naloxone nearby and learn how to use it. If they drink heavily or take benzodiazepines, they should not stop suddenly without medical advice. Withdrawal from these can be dangerous.