All substance use has risk. If you use opioids, you can reduce your risk of overdose or death by taking these steps:
- Use only one drug at a time or use less of each drug.
- Get a naloxone kit and let others know where you keep it.
- Encourage family and friends to get opioid overdose prevention/naloxone administration training and get a kit themselves
- Don't mix central nervous system depressants ("downers"/"nervies") such as alcohol, benzodiazepines, and opioids can significantly increase risk of overdose.
- Don't mix stimulants with depressants, "speedballing" actually increases risk of overdose because the body has more drug to process.
- Remember some opioids are more lethal than others. Test the strength of the drug before you do the whole amount. If pills look different, assume they are tainted. If you intend to use them, only try a small amount, and keep naloxone handy.
- Remember tolerance drops quickly within a few days of not using or using less. For example, when you are released from detox, hospital, or jail. If using after a period of abstinence, start with a smaller amount.
- Remember impaired liver, kidney, and lung function can affect how the drug is metabolized in the body. If using opioids, go slow, take breaks and use less if you are sick.
- Avoid injecting. If you inject, you are at a higher risk of overdose. Consider snorting or ingesting when using alone or after periods of abstinence. But no matter which way you use, you are still at risk of overdose.
- Be aware that previous overdose can increase risk of a future overdose.
