How to Respond to an Overdose

1. Try to wake the person up by yelling their name and rubbing the middle of their chest with your knuckles (sternum rub).
2. Call 9-1-1. Indicate the person has stopped breathing or is struggling to breathe.
3. Make sure nothing is in the person's mouth that could be blocking their breathing. If breathing has stopped or is very slow, begin rescue breathing.

Give Rescue Breathing

1. Tilt their head back, lift chin, pinch nose shut.
2. Give 1 slow breath every 5 seconds. Blow enough air into their lungs to make their chest rise.
3. Use naloxone and continue rescue breathing at one breath every 5 seconds.
4. If the person begins to breathe on their own, put them on their side so they do not choke on their vomit. Continue to monitor their breathing and perform rescue breathing if respirations are below 10 breaths a minute. If vomiting occurs, manually clear their mouth and nose.
5. Stay with the person until EMS arrives.

Casey's Law

The Matthew Casey Wethington Act for Substance Abuse Intervention is named for Matthew Casey Wethington, who died in 2002 from a heroin overdose at the age of 23. Casey was an energetic young man who enjoyed life until it was “taken” by drugs. Casey never intended to become addicted to drugs when he used the first time. What he did not realize was that his using would progress from abusing to dependence and then to the disease of addiction. Although his parents tried to get him help, there was no law that could force someone into treatment because he was an adult. After Casey’s death his parents lobbied for a change. “Casey’s Law” is an involuntary treatment act for those who suffer from the disease of addiction.

How to Respond to an Overdose

1. Try to wake the person up by yelling their name and rubbing the middle of their chest with your knuckles (sternum rub).
2. Call 9-1-1. Indicate the person has stopped breathing or is struggling to breathe.
3. Make sure nothing is in the person's mouth that could be blocking their breathing. If breathing has stopped or is very slow, begin rescue breathing.

Give Rescue Breathing

1. Tilt their head back, lift chin, pinch nose shut.
2. Give 1 slow breath every 5 seconds. Blow enough air into their lungs to make their chest rise.
3. Use naloxone and continue rescue breathing at one breath every 5 seconds.
4. If the person begins to breathe on their own, put them on their side so they do not choke on their vomit. Continue to monitor their breathing and perform rescue breathing if respirations are below 10 breaths a minute. If vomiting occurs, manually clear their mouth and nose.
5. Stay with the person until EMS arrives.

Casey's Law

The Matthew Casey Wethington Act for Substance Abuse Intervention is named for Matthew Casey Wethington, who died in 2002 from a heroin overdose at the age of 23. Casey was an energetic young man who enjoyed life until it was “taken” by drugs. Casey never intended to become addicted to drugs when he used the first time. What he did not realize was that his using would progress from abusing to dependence and then to the disease of addiction. Although his parents tried to get him help, there was no law that could force someone into treatment because he was an adult. After Casey’s death his parents lobbied for a change. “Casey’s Law” is an involuntary treatment act for those who suffer from the disease of addiction.