Quick help
- Call 111 for an ambulance if the person is unrepsonsive or unconscious.
- Call Healthline on 0800 611 116 if you are uncertain.
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What to look for
Drowsiness: The person may be very sleepy.
Confusion: The person may not know where they are or what is happening.
Loss of coordination and balance: The person may fall over or be unable to do simple tasks.
Hallucinations: The person may be imagining things.
Strange behaviour: The person may do unusual things.
Seizures: The person may jerk and twitch or have convulsions.
Nausea or vomiting: The person feels sick or is being sick.
Evidence of overdose: Look for containers, bottles, syringes, or a strong chemical or strange smell etc.
Mood changes: Including being very excited, or aggressive, or feeling ‘down'.
How you can help
If the person has taken a mixture of substances
- Sometimes people take a ‘cocktail’ (mixture) of substances without knowing exactly what they are taking.
- Look for anything nearby that might help the hospital or ambulance staff with treatment.
- Keep any container, syringe or needle, and vomit, which can help identify what they might have taken.
If the person is unresponsive
- If the person is unresponsive and breathing normally place them on their side.
- Tilt the person’s head back and lift their chin up to make sure they can breathe properly.
- Clear any vomit away from the person’s mouth.
- If the person is unresponsive and not breathing normally begin CPR.
If the person is conscious
- Stay with them and reassure them that you are there to help.
- If there are friends or family nearby ask them to help you keep the person calm.
- Ask the person what they have taken; how much, when, and whether it was swallowed, inhaled, or injected.
- If the person is behaving dangerously call 111 for the police.
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The person may have overdosed accidentally, e.g., too much to drink or ‘party pills’, or on purpose (trying to harm themselves).
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