Heroin Overdose Symptoms & Treatment

Heroin is a highly addictive opioid drug, and its use comes with a significant risk of overdose.^1,2 In 2021, there were more than 3 times the number of fatal heroin overdoses than there were in 2010.²

On this page, you’ll learn about the signs of heroin overdose, the risk factors for heroin overdose, what to do in the event of an overdose, and how to get help for heroin addiction.

Heroin Overdose

A heroin overdose occurs when someone uses too much heroin, which can lead to the life-threatening conditions of slowed breathing, depressed heart rate, coma, and possibly death.^1,2

Heroin Overdose Symptoms

Recognizing the signs and symptoms of an opioid-involved overdose can help save lives. Signs of an opioid overdose, including heroin overdose symptoms, can include any of the following:^4,5

• Falling asleep or loss of consciousness
• Constricted or “pinpoint” pupils
• Breathing and/or heart rate slows or stops
• Not responding to attempts to wake up
• Limp body
• Unable to speak
• Skin that feels cold and/or clammy
• Fingernails or lips that are blue or purple in color
• Vomiting
• Making choking or gurgling noises

What to Do in the Case of a Heroin Overdose

A heroin overdose is a medical emergency that requires immediate medical attention. In the event of a known or suspected overdose, taking the following actions could save a person’s life:^3,5

1. Call 911 immediately.
2. If naloxone is available, administer it.
3. Try to keep them awake and breathing.
4. To prevent choking, lay the person on their side.
5. Stay with the person until emergency personnel arrive.

Most states, including Florida, have Good Samaritan laws that provide differing levels of protection from criminal action for people who seek help for a drug-related overdose emergency.⁶

Naloxone for Heroin Overdose

Available in all 50 states, naloxone is a medication that can rapidly reverse a heroin overdose when administered promptly. Naloxone also works to reverse the overdose effects of other opioids including prescription opioids and fentanyl.⁵

There are two forms of naloxone approved by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA)—an injectable form and a nasal spray:⁷

• The nasal spray is easy to use and gets sprayed into one of the person’s nostrils while they are lying on their back.
• The injectable form is typically injected into the person’s muscle but can also be injected under the skin or intravenously.

There may be times when additional doses of naloxone are needed, particularly if the person used a large quantity of heroin or extremely potent opioids such as fentanyl.^5,7

If you aren’t sure if someone is overdosing on heroin or other opioids, you can still administer naloxone; it will not cause a person harm.⁵

Naloxone can be obtained with a prescription, and in most states, it is also available without a prescription from a pharmacy or naloxone distribution programs in the community.⁵

Heroin Overdose Risk Factors

While a heroin overdose can happen to anyone who uses the substance, there are several factors that can increase the risk, including:^3,8

• Using higher doses of heroin.
• Having had a substance use disorder in the past or a history of overdose.
• Having certain medical conditions, such as sleep apnea or other sleep-disordered breathing.
• Returning to a high dose of heroin after a period of reduced or no use (loss of tolerance).
• Combining heroin with benzodiazepines or alcohol.
• Being age 65 or older.
• Having liver or kidney failure.
• Using heroin that is mixed with fentanyl.

Heroin Addiction Treatment Near Miami, FL

If you or someone you care about are struggling with heroin addiction, effective treatments are available. Our drug rehab near Miami offers several levels of treatment, including medical detox, inpatient/residential treatment, and outpatient addiction treatment.

At Recovery First Treatment Center, our expert clinical team employs evidence-based heroin addiction treatment that includes individual and group-based therapy approaches.

To learn more about paying for addiction treatment, or to begin the treatment admissions process, reach out to one of our compassionate admissions navigators today at .

If you have insurance, you can quickly check your insurance coverage for rehab by completing our .