Be overdose aware - You could SAVE A LIFE

Using again after a break can increase your risk big time.

Your risk of overdose is higher if you:

• Mix drugs, or use a drug combination

• Use diverted Methadone compared to Suboxone (bupe strips)

• Use a larger amount, or higher purity, than usual

• Inject instead of using other ways (e.g. swallowing, snorting, smoking)

• Use while sick with an infection, high temperature or being run down

• Use alone with no one to knock up or call for help. Overdosing alone can end in death.

How to recognise and respond to an overdose on opioids or downers

• Person's breathing is shallow, slow, irregular; or they may not be breathing at all
• Person may be making sounds like snoring, gurgling or choking
• Difficult or impossible to be woken up; not responding
• Change in skin colour on lips and fingertips.
• Grey colour if skin is dark, or a blueish colour if skin is light.
• Skin may be cool to touch
• Small pupils in the eyes
• If a person is intoxicated (stoned or drunk), they should be seen by a nurse or doctor, and can get treatment to make them and other people safe.

What’s your overdose survival plan?

• Play your part in overdose education.
• Everyone should know to knock up in case of overdose.
• If you’re on your own and feel yourself drifting away, breathe deeply and knock up or call out.