Tips for preventing OD's

• Mixing heroin with alcohol or pills (i.e. Klonopin, Xanax, Valium, Oxy's) greatly increase your chance of overdose. The effect of pills and alcohol together can force your system to shut down.

• If your tolerance is down because you've been in jail, a program, the hospital or just if you haven't used in a day or so, do a small amount. Remember

• you can always do more but you can never do less.

• Try not to use alone.

• Taste your shot - let the tourniquet off after you register and push your shot in slowly. This way you can "taste" your dope and it's better for your veins.

• Do tester shots or more realistically, smaller shots. This is especially important if you're getting your dope from a new connect or if you're new in town. The dope is different everywhere you go so be extra careful when you're in a new town.
  

• Prepare your own drugs, so you know how strong your shot is and exactly what's in it.

• If another person fixes you (shoots you up), then it's a good idea to learn how to fix yourself so you don't have to rely on someone else and so you can have control over your own use.

• Have an OD plan with the people you use with.

• Empower yourself. Learn rescue breathing, CPR and how to administer Naloxone/Narcan.

  Tips for getting high alone

• If you're getting high in a public place (restaurant/bar bathroom, space toilet, outside) let a friend know where you are going, or have them wait outside and then have them check on you. Then you can switch and return the favor.

• Don't lock the door if you're getting high indoors so your roommates, friends or paramedics can get in easily if they need to.

• If you think you might be overdosing, don't hesitate to call for help.

• Have a Naloxone kit ready, if you feel

• too high

• you can manage it by giving yourself a small shot (50-60 units).

  Signs of overdose

  Someone is overdosing might show the following signs: blue lips, fingernails and toenails. Slow or shallow breathing, or no breathing at all. Faint or no pulse. Skin is pale and clammy. Unresponsive to outside stimulus. Snoring or gurgling noises while asleep or nodding out.

  What to do if someone OD's.

  If the person is conscious:

• Walk them around, keep them talking and moving.
  

• Monitor their breathing.

  If the person is unconscious:

• Try yelling "Narcan" or yell their name.
  

• Try waking them with pain stimulus by pinching their ear, or rubbing their sternum with your knuckles.
  

• If they are not breathing or have shallow breathing, START RESCUE BREATHING.
  

• If your trained on, and have Narcan, now is the time to use it.
  

• If you're alone, put them in the recovery position and call 911, and then start rescue breathing.
  

• Continue RB until the paramedics arrive. This is crucial oxygen keeps us alive.