Prescription Opioid Overdose: Signs, Risks, & Treatment

Prescription opioids are medications used to treat acute pain, and, in some cases, chronic pain. Common prescription opioid medications include hydrocodone, oxycodone (OxyContin, Percocet), oxymorphone, morphine, codeine, and pharmaceutical formulations of fentanyl (Actiq, Fentora).^1,2 

While prescription opioids can be safe and effective analgesics when taken as directed, the risk of fatal overdose increases with non-medical misuse.¹  Keep reading to learn more about the risks of an opioid overdose, how to recognize the signs of an opioid overdose, what to do if an overdose occurs, and how to find prescription opioid addiction treatment.

Opioid Overdose

An opioid overdose occurs when a person has taken more of an opioid than their brain and body can handle, resulting in potentially life-threatening symptoms. Opioids can be dangerous because they interact with the part of the brain that controls breathing. People who take too much of an opioid can suffocate due to suppressed breathing, which is why an opioid overdose can be fatal.^1,3

Opioid Overdose Signs

The effects of a prescription opioid overdose are similar to overdose symptoms for other opioids, including drugs like heroin and illicit fentanyl. Signs of an opioid overdose include:³

• Unconsciousness or inability to awaken.
• Pinpoint pupils or pupils that don’t react to light.
• Slow or shallow breathing or difficulty breathing that may sound like choking, gurgling, or snoring.
• Blue or purple lips or fingernails. (Color may appear grayish or ashen in darker complexions).

What to Do in Case of an Opioid Overdose?

If someone is overdosing on opioids, it is important to act quickly and call 911. If available, immediately administer naloxone (Narcan, Kloxxado, RiVive, or another form), which is a life-saving medication that can rapidly restore breathing and reverse the effects of an overdose.^3,4

In case of an opioid overdose, you should also:³

• Try to keep the person awake.
• Support the person’s breathing by giving them CPR (rescue breaths). Then gently roll them on their side.
• Remain with the person until emergency medical services arrive.

Prescription Opioid Overdose Risk Factors

Certain factors may increase the risk of a prescription opioid overdose. These can include:³

• Using larger amounts of an opioid or a stronger opioid than the person is used to.
• Resuming substance use after a period of abstinence, after opioid tolerance has diminished.
• Mixing opioids with other substances, especially CNS depressants like alcohol and benzodiazepines.
• Using drugs despite having an underlying lung or heart condition, such as sleep apnea or asthma, which leaves people unable to tolerate lower levels of oxygen.
• Having a previous history of overdose.
• Using opioids alone without informing another person who may be able to respond to an overdose.
• Using opioids in an unknown or stressful environment, which can potentially reduce awareness of and decrease access to opioid overdose prevention tools.

Opioid Overdose Deaths

Opioids are the main cause of fatal overdoses in the U.S. and have led to hundreds of thousands of deaths.^5,6 

• The 12-month period ending in April 2021 was the first time that drug overdose deaths surpassed 100,000, and the vast majority of these were due to opioid overdose. It marked the deadliest year for drug overdoses in U.S. history.^5–7
• An estimated 107,622 drug overdose deaths occurred in 2021, an increase of nearly 15% from the 93,655 deaths estimated in 2020.⁸ 
• Between 2019 and 2022, opioid-involved overdose deaths (involving any opioid) nearly doubled from 49,860 in 2019 to 81,806 in 2022.⁵
• Drug overdose deaths involving prescription opioids rose from 3,442 in 1999 to 17,029 in 2017, but from 2017–2019, the number of deaths declined to 14,139. In 2020, there was a slight uptick with 16,416 reported deaths, but by 2022, the number of deaths went down to 14,716. These figures show that prescription opioids are no longer driving the opioid epidemic.⁵
• An estimated 107,543 drug overdose deaths occurred in the United States during 2023—a 3% drop from the 111,029 overdose deaths estimated in 2022. This represents the first annual decrease in drug overdose deaths since 2018.⁹

Prescription Opioid Addiction Treatment Near Miami, FL

If you or a loved one is struggling with addiction or concerned about prescription opioid withdrawal or overdose, you should know that treatment can help. Recovery First, an inpatient rehab facility near Miami, offers evidence-based treatment for opioid addiction involving different levels of rehab to suit all needs.

Our admissions navigators are available around the clock to answer any questions you may have about rehab, including rehab admissions, paying for rehab, and using insurance to pay for rehab. When you’re ready to reach out, call us at to learn more about your treatment options and begin the path to recovery today.