OxyContin Awareness - Overdose Information

Slow breathing (respiratory depression), seizures, dizziness, weakness, loss of consciousness, coma, confusion, tiredness, COLD and CLAMMY SKIN, Small PUPILS, reduced vision, nausea vomiting, clouding of mental functions (acting stupid)

WHAT DO YOU DO IF YOU THINK YOUR FRIEND IS IN DANGER OF AN OVERDOSE?
(REAL WORLD)

Some of the symptoms may be:

**Pinpoint pupils
**Respiratory depression- Normal respirations are around 12-20 times/minute.
If your friend is breathing less than 10 times in a minute, they could be in
serious trouble.
Confusion
Drowsiness
Mood changes
Clouding of mental function- they are acting 'stupid'
Reduced vision
apathy- feelings of 'they just don't care about anything'
decreased physical activity
constipation
nausea
vomiting

(1) More than likely, you KNOW what your friend has taken. Do NOT just help him get home and not say anything to his parents. Your friend could go to sleep and NOT WAKE UP!

(2) Alot of the above symptoms will make you think ' he's just drunk'.......but be honest with your friend's parents. If you think your
friend took something else, then let them know. He may be in trouble in the morning, but at least he will be alive. That may even be the beginning of his getting the help that he needs to stop using drugs. Take him home then have someone make a anonymous call or tell a 3rd party to tell parents if you have to.

(3) What if letting the parents know is out?

A. Watch your friend closely. If his respirations start to decrease to less
than 10 in a minute, then he probably needs medical attention before his
body starts to react to decreased oxygen levels. If you don't get enough
oxygen, you could suffer irreversible brain damage, go into respiratory
arrest (just stop breathing) or you could have a heart attack. CALL 911.
While you are waiting for an ambulance if your friend is still breathing and
you can get him to respond to you, try calling his name. Make him wake up and talk to you. Don't let him go to sleep. He will probably get irritated
with you, but do whatever you have to do. You may want to try shaking him to rouse him. KEEP HIM AWAKE AND TALKING if you can. If you take your friend yourself to the hospital then many times the police are never notified of the incident. USE your head especially if respirations are decreasing better to call 911 then go to a funeral or visit your friend while he lays in a COMA.

B. If you can't keep him awake and talking. WATCH HIS BREATHING. If he stops breathing (and has a pulse), begin rescue breathing- 1 breath every 5 seconds. (COUNT- one, one thousand, two, one thousand, three, one thousand, four one thousand, breath one thousand.) Watch the chest and make sure it is rising and falling. (that tells you that your air is going in & coming out). If it's not try repositioning his head. Check and make sure he has a pulse after 1 minute of rescue breathing. If he doesn't have a pulse, START CPR. If he does, continue rescue breathing. Keep doing this until EMS arrives.

Overdose of Oxycontin or other CNS depressants is a serious thing that may require hospitalization. Sometimes the person needs to be temporarily hooked to a ventilator to help him breathe until the drug wears off. Most people who are 'hooked' on this drug need professional help to stop using it. If you or your friends are using it, please get help and stop. You are playing RUSSIAN ROULETTE with your life.