Know How to Help an Overdose Victim and Where to Get Them Help
Witnessing an overdose can cause panic. You may frantically find yourself wondering how you can help and whether your loved one will get in trouble for a drug-related overdose. Or, you may be wondering what you can do to save them. During an overdose, every second counts!
Does Arizona have a good Samaritan Law for overdose?
For Arizona residents, the Good Samaritan law provides legal protections for the person experiencing the overdose and the person seeking medical treatment or care. This means you do not need to worry about legal consequences when call 9-1-1.
The first thing you should do is get them help โ and the second is to encourage them to take steps so the situation never happens again. Keep reading to learn more about Good Samaritan protections in Arizona, what to do when someone is overdosing, and encouraging your loved one to seek help at Catalina Behavioral Health.
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What is Arizonaโs Good Samaritan Law for Overdoses?
The Good Samaritan law for overdoses protects both the person overdosing and whoever calls for medical assistance. Under this law, neither person can be charged with possession of drugs, drug use, or paraphernalia following an overdose.
By offering legal protections, the goal is to reduce the number of overdose deaths caused by someone witnessing an overdose and not being willing to help.
This law only protects if emergency services are contacted. These protections remain in place no matter the result of life-saving measures.
Who is Protected by Good Samaritan Laws?
Good Samaritan laws protect the person who is overdosing, as well as the person who calls for medical attention. Most (but not all) states have some type of Good Samaritan act in place offering similar protections.
Arizona Good Samaritans laws for emergency care protect medical professionals administering aid in good faith from facing charges of negligence. For example, if a nurse or doctor were at an event and someone overdosed, they could administer aid without fear of legal consequences, regardless of the result of their efforts.
Who Isnโt Protected by the Good Samaritan Law?
The Good Samaritan Law does not protect a person who committed a crime not related to drug use or possession prior to their overdose. For example, they can still get in trouble for driving under the influence, causing harm to another person, or causing a car accident.
What to Do When Someone Overdoses
Opioids are a depressant of the central nervous system. They interact with the same control mechanism in the brain that affects respiratory rate. With an overdose, there can be so much respiratory depression that the oxygen supply is cut off. This causes loss of consciousness and increases the risk of physical injury or death.
Sadly, most of us know or love someone who has struggled with addiction. The longer it takes to get help, the greater the risk of severe health problems. So how can you help if you find a friend or loved one that has overdosed?
Recognizing an Opioid Overdose
An average of five people die in Arizona every day from drug overdose โ an often preventable condition. Before you can help with an overdose, youโll need to diagnose it so you know for sure what you are dealing with.
Some signs of an opioid overdose include:
- Difficulty staying awake or loss of consciousness
- Slow, weak, or no breathing
- Confusion and disorientation
- Dizziness
- Small pupils
- Greyish or bluish lips and skin
- Cool and clammy skin
- Decreased heart rate
- Gurling, choking, or snoring sounds
If someone has lost consciousness, try rubbing their sternum firmly with your palm. Call their name and try shaking them. If they are unresponsive, it also indicates they may be experiencing an overdose.
Providing Help
Many states have passed laws that require students to learn CPR before graduating from high school. If itโs been a while since graduating or youโve never learned this skill, itโs a good idea to practice. CPR can be life-saving in many situations.
Administering Narcan can also be life-saving, as it blocks the opioid receptors and reverses the effects of opioid drugs. This life-saving measure is available without a prescription over-the-counter, from community organizations, and from health departments.
There are minimal risks of administering Narcan. Even if a person has overdosed and it is not the result of opioids, naloxone will not cause adverse effects.
If you need to administer Narcan, insert the nozzle into one side of the personโs nose. Gently pinch on both sides of the nose and press the plunger to administer the dose. If they do not respond within three minutes, administer a second dose.
What to Do After an Overdose
You should never leave someone who has overdosed alone. Administering Narcan reverses the effects of any opioids they have taken. As they regain consciousness, they may experience withdrawal symptoms.
Unsupervised, they may seek out additional drugs to limit withdrawal symptoms. They may take high doses to override the naloxone, resulting in another overdose. Thereโs also a risk of choking on saliva or vomit if they lose consciousness again.
While helping in the crisis is a great first step, itโs also important to encourage them to seek further help. An individualized, evidence-based treatment program like the ones offered at Catalina will help them understand the root of addiction and learn the skills so that they never put themselves (or you) in this position again.
Encouraging Your Loved One to Seek Help
Helping during a drug overdose is only half the battle. Addiction is a chronic, ongoing struggle. And, with the increased amounts of fentanyl found in street drugs today, struggling is more dangerous than ever.
Sometimes, overdosing can be a wake-up call for someone. It shows your friend or loved one what they stand to lose. For some people, unfortunately, even overdosing doesnโt encourage them to get help. This is where you come in.
Try to have an open, honest conversation with your loved one about treatment, free of stigma or judgment. Let them know that they are loved and if they decide to take on this journey, youโll support them in any way you can. For more help with convincing your loved one to seek treatment, contact Catalina Behavioral Health.
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Reaching Out to Catalina for Help Following an Overdose
When you convince your loved one to get treatment, you want to give them the chance to put their best foot forward. Thatโs where Catalina can help.
We use a personalized, evidence-based approach that leads to better treatment outcomes for our clients. We donโt just focus on getting them clean, we give them tools to maintain lasting sobriety.
Our convenient location in Tucson makes us accessible to residents all over the state. We also accept many forms of health insurance. Call us with your questions, to set up a tour of our facility, or to set up an intake appointment today!
References
- https://pdaps.org/datasets/good-samaritan-overdose-laws-1501695153
- https://www.azleg.gov/ars/13/03423.htm
- https://directorsblog.health.azdhs.gov/new-campaign-highlights-the-life-saving-impact-of-naloxone-in-reversing-an-opioid-overdose/
