Opioids
Opioid Basics:
- Prescription opioids are prescribed by practitioners to treat moderate to severe pain, but can also have serious risks and side effects.
- Common types are oxycodone (OxyContin, Percocet), hydrocodone (Vicodin, Lortab, Norco), morphine, and methadone.
- Fentanyl is a synthetic opioid pain reliever. It is many times more powerful than other opioids and is approved for treating severe pain, typically advanced cancer pain.
- Fentanyl can also be made and distributed illicitly (commonly referred to as illicitly manufactured fentanyl, or IMF). Most recent cases of fentanyl-related harm, overdose, and death in the U.S. are linked to IMF.
- Heroin is an illegal, highly addictive opioid.
Opioid Prescribing Guidelines
Safe Use, Storage, and Disposal
Naloxone
Fentanyl
- Unconsciousness, or inability to wake up
- Limp body
- Falling asleep, extreme drowsiness
- Slow, shallow, irregular, or no breathing
- Discolored skin (especially in lips and nails)
- Cold and/or clammy skin
- Choking, snoring, or gurgling sounds
- Very small or “pinpoint” pupils
DO NOT:
- Allow the victim to "sleep it off."
- Put the victim in a bath or shower.
- Leave the victim alone.
- Treat the victim with home remedies - they do not work and often delay potentially life-saving medical treatment.
- Delay calling 911 to clean up the scene.
Call 911 immediately if you suspect someone is experiencing an overdose.*
*A Good Samaritan law (63 O.S. § 2-413.1) was enacted in Oklahoma to provide immunity, under certain circumstances, to individuals seeking medical attention for someone who has overdosed.
It may be hard to tell whether a person is high or experiencing an overdose. If you aren’t sure, treat it like an overdose—you could save a life.
- Call 911 immediately.*
- Administer naloxone, if available.
- Try to keep the person awake and breathing.
- Lay the person on their side to prevent choking.
- Stay with the person until emergency assistance arrives.
*A Good Samaritan law (63 O.S. § 2-413.1) was enacted in Oklahoma to provide immunity, under certain circumstances, to individuals seeking medical attention for someone who has overdosed.
- Only take medications as prescribed.
- Never share or sell prescription drugs.
- Properly dispose of unused, unneeded, or expired medications.
- Secure your medications to avoid theft.
- Naloxone is a safe and effective drug that reverses an opioid overdose. Talk to your doctor or pharmacist or visit OK I’m Ready.
Contact Information
Mailing Address:
Oklahoma State Department of Health
Injury Prevention Service
123 Robert S. Kerr Ave., Suite 1702
Oklahoma City, OK 73102-6406
Physical Address:
Oklahoma State Department of Health
Injury Prevention Service
123 Robert S. Kerr Ave.
Oklahoma City, OK
Telephone: (405) 426-8440
Fax: (405) 900-7588
Email: injury@health.ok.gov