uk Health & medical scares

What to do if…
someone may have overdosed and is difficult to wake

Produced and maintained by PanicStation.org Published: 18 July 2026 Last reviewed: 15 August 2026 Editorial policy UK guide

Short answer

Call 999 now and say that someone may have overdosed and is difficult to wake. Check whether they are breathing normally and follow the call handler’s instructions.

Do not do these things

Do not wait for them to sleep it off.
Do not leave them alone.
Do not give them anything to eat or drink.
Do not give them coffee or more alcohol or drugs.
Do not try to make them vomit.
Do not put them in a cold bath or shower.
Do not delay calling while trying to identify exactly what they took.
Do not handle loose powders, liquids, needles, or other hazards.
Do not guess when speaking to ambulance staff; say what you know and what you do not know.

What to do now

Check that it is safe to approach. Ask loudly whether they are all right and can open their eyes. If they do not properly respond or wake, call 999 immediately and put the phone on speaker if possible.
Tell the call handler that you suspect an overdose, that the person is difficult to wake, and your exact location. Follow the instructions they give you.
Check whether the person is breathing normally. Look for chest movement and listen and feel for breathing. Gasping or irregular breathing is not normal breathing.
If they are not breathing normally, start CPR immediately as directed by the 999 call handler. Continue until the person begins breathing normally, emergency help takes over, or the call handler tells you to stop.
If they are breathing normally but remain unresponsive, place them in the recovery position unless the call handler tells you otherwise. Keep checking their breathing.
If an opioid such as heroin, methadone, morphine, fentanyl, or a nitazene may be involved and naloxone is available, use it according to the product instructions and the call handler’s advice. Naloxone does not replace emergency medical care.
Stay with the person. Keep them warm with a coat or blanket, keep the area as calm and safe as possible, and ask someone else to meet the ambulance if another person is present.
Without touching loose substances or other hazards, gather visible medicine packets or containers for the ambulance crew. Tell them what may have been taken, approximately how much, when it was taken, whether alcohol or other substances were involved, and any medical conditions you know about.
If the person vomits while breathing, keep them on their side so the vomit can drain away. If their breathing changes or stops, tell the 999 call handler immediately and follow their instructions.

What can wait

You do not need to identify the exact substance, explain why it happened, contact everyone they know, clean the area, or decide what should happen after hospital. Focus only on calling 999, protecting their breathing, following instructions, and staying with them.

Important reassurance

You do not need to be certain that an overdose has happened before calling 999. Someone being difficult to wake after possible drug, medicine, or heavy alcohol use is enough reason to seek emergency help.

Scope note

This guide covers immediate first steps while emergency help is being arranged. Decisions about treatment, follow-up care, substance use support, or the circumstances of the suspected overdose can be addressed later with appropriate professionals.

Important note

This is general first-aid information and is not a substitute for emergency medical advice. Call 999 and follow the instructions given by the emergency call handler and ambulance crew.

Additional Resources

About this guide

This guide was produced and is maintained by PanicStation.org using its published editorial process. Official and specialist sources are checked where relevant, and AI-assisted tools may be used for drafting, organisation, and consistency checks. The site operator remains responsible for publication, revision, and removal decisions.

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