Laguna Treatment Hospital Hosts Webinar on Overdose Response on August 31^st

Far too many people have lost their lives in the opioid crisis: In 2020 alone, over 93,000 people suffered a fatal opioid overdose, according to preliminary data collected by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). While misusing opioids puts someone at a much higher risk of suffering an opioid overdose, anyone that takes opioids (even for legitimate medical reasons) is at risk. That’s why it is so important for people to learn exactly what to do in these situations.

On August 31^st—International Overdose Awareness Day—Laguna Treatment Hospital and other American Addiction Centers (AAC) facilities are offering a webinar for businesses interested in learning the proper procedure for responding to an opioid overdoses.

The classes are 1-hour long and will feature a Q&A section at the end. Businesses that participate may opt to receive a digital badge for their website and social profiles stating their staff has been given overdose training from a leading treatment center. Both webinars provided by Laguna Treatment Hospital are on August 31^st, at 1PM and 2PM PST.

Signs of an Opioid Overdose

Nothing beats being taught in real time by an experienced professional. However, even if you are unable to attend formal training, you should still know how to recognize the signs of an opioid overdose. Signs and symptoms of an opioid overdose include:

• Loss of consciousness.
• Making choking noises.
• Pupils constricting.
• Falling limp.
• Skin turning white, blue, or cold.

Acting quickly in these instances may save someone’s life.

Responding to an Opioid Overdose

In the event of an opioid overdose, bystanders should immediately call 9-1-1 and administer naloxone if it is available. Naloxone is an opioid overdose reversal drug that is available in many states—including California—without a prescription. The main device that the public may use to administer naloxone is Narcan, which is a nasal spray containing one dose of the drug*. If the patient does not respond, additional doses should be administered a few minutes apart. The person suffering the overdose should be rolled onto their side to prevent choking and someone should wait with them and attempt to keep them awake and breathing until emergency services arrive.

*Injectable solutions of naloxone are more commonly used by medical professionals since they requiring drawing the solution into a syringe and injecting it either into the muscle or directly into the vein.

Preventing an Opioid Overdose

The best way to prevent a fatal overdose is by avoiding an overdose all together. An overdose is more likely to happen when:

• Misusing illicit drugs or prescription pills sold on the black market. Even non-opioid drugs may contain fatal levels of fentanyl or other synthetic opioids.
• Mixing drugs or combining drugs and alcohol.
• Taking high doses of prescription drugs or exceeding the recommended dosage or frequency.

Some factors that raise the risk of overdose are uncontrollable, such as the presence of certain medical conditions and age. This is why everyone—even those that do not misuse opioids or have contact with people that misuse opioids—can benefit from overdose response training.

“Statistically, none of us are too far removed from this crisis; nearly all of us know someone affected in some way,” said Barbara Kennedy, CEO of Laguna Treatment Hospital. “This is why we thought it was important to educate the community on what to do should they encounter an overdose emergency, and the best way to start disseminating that information is by working with our local businesses.”

For people that struggle with opioid addiction, treatment is often necessary to help them enter recovery. Laguna Treatment Hospital provides medical detox, inpatient, and residential treatment services for people struggling with any kind of substance use disorder. They also provide aftercare programs and virtual support meetings to help people remain sober by staying connected with their peers.

If you or a loved one is struggling with addiction, please reach out to an admissions navigator at to learn more about Laguna Treatment Hospital.