How to Create a Family Overdose Emergency Plan for Medications

Every year, over 100,000 people in the U.S. die from drug overdoses. Most of these deaths involve opioids like fentanyl, and many happen at home - often in front of family members who don’t know what to do. The good news? Overdose deaths can be prevented - if you have a plan and the right tools ready. You don’t need to be a doctor. You don’t need special training. You just need to act before it’s too late.

Why Your Family Needs an Overdose Emergency Plan

If someone in your home takes prescription painkillers - even just once a month - you need this plan. In 2022, over 51 million U.S. adults got opioid prescriptions. Many of those people are your neighbors, your relatives, maybe even your child or parent. Fentanyl, a synthetic opioid 50 to 100 times stronger than morphine, can shut down breathing in under three minutes. By the time someone calls 911, it’s often too late.

But here’s what most people don’t know: if naloxone (the overdose reversal drug) is given within 2 to 5 minutes, it works 93% of the time. That’s not luck. That’s science. And it’s not just for addicts. It’s for anyone who takes opioids - even if they’re following their doctor’s orders. The goal isn’t to assume someone will overdose. It’s to be ready in case they do.

Step 1: Know the Signs of an Overdose

You can’t respond to something you don’t recognize. An overdose doesn’t always look like someone slumped on the floor. Look for these three clear signs:

• Unresponsive: Shake their shoulders hard. Yell their name. If they don’t wake up, it’s not sleep - it’s danger.
• Slow or stopped breathing: Count breaths for 15 seconds. If they take fewer than 12 breaths per minute, or if their chest isn’t moving at all, they’re not getting enough oxygen.
• Pinpoint pupils: Shine a flashlight into their eyes. If the black center of the eye is tiny like a pinprick, that’s a classic sign of opioid overdose.

These signs show up fast - especially with fentanyl. Don’t wait for snoring or blue lips. If you see even one of these, act immediately.

Step 2: Get Naloxone in Your Home

Naloxone is the only medication that can reverse an opioid overdose. It’s safe, non-addictive, and works on all opioids - including fentanyl, oxycodone, and heroin. You can get it without a prescription in 46 states, including Alberta and Saskatchewan in Canada.

There are two main types:

• Intranasal spray (Narcan): Easy to use. One spray into one nostril. No needles. Costs $25 or less with insurance. Generic versions are now available and just as effective.
• Intramuscular injection: A shot in the thigh or upper arm. Used in hospitals and by first responders. Requires training but lasts longer in the body.

Keep at least two doses on hand. Fentanyl is so strong that one dose of naloxone often isn’t enough. Some people need three or more. Store them in a cool, dry place - not the bathroom or the glove compartment of your car. Room temperature (68-77°F) is best. Check expiration dates every 18 months. Most naloxone lasts 2 years, but heat and light can break it down faster.

Step 3: Build Your Family Response Plan

Write this down. Put it on the fridge. Save it on your phone. Make sure every adult and teen in the house knows where it is and what to do.

Use the A.N.C.H.O.R. method:

1. Assess: Check for unresponsiveness, slow breathing, and pinpoint pupils.
2. Naloxone: Administer one dose of nasal spray into one nostril. If no response after 2-3 minutes, give a second dose in the other nostril.
3. Call 911: Do this immediately after giving naloxone. Even if they wake up, they still need medical care.
4. Have more ready: Keep the second dose nearby. Overdose symptoms can return as naloxone wears off - this is called renarcotization. It happens in 2 to 4 hours.
5. Observe: Stay with the person. Turn them on their side if they’re breathing. Don’t leave them alone.
6. Review: After the emergency, talk as a family. What worked? What didn’t? Update your plan.

Practice this plan every few months. Just like fire drills, it builds muscle memory. Your teenager might be the one who finds them first. Make sure they know how to use the spray.

Step 4: Prepare Critical Documents

Create a laminated card you can carry in your wallet or keep taped to the fridge. Include:

• Names and phone numbers of all household members
• Names of all prescription medications taken at home (include dosages and prescribing doctors)
• Location of your naloxone kit
• Emergency contact for local EMS
• Steps for naloxone use (simple bullet points)

This card cuts response time by nearly a minute - every second counts. In Ohio’s 2022 trial, families with these cards responded 47 seconds faster than those without.

Step 5: Train Everyone in the Household

You can’t rely on hope. You need skill. The American Red Cross offers a free 15-minute online course on overdose response. It’s available in English and Spanish. Washington State’s OEND program offers free in-person training at pharmacies and community centers. Many libraries and public health offices also host sessions.

Train everyone over 12 years old. Teens are often the first to find someone overdosing - especially in households with older adults. The 2023 National Youth Risk Behavior Survey found 34% of teens know someone who’s had an overdose. They need to know what to do.

Don’t assume your partner or parent will remember. Practice with them. Use a training naloxone kit (they’re available for free from many health departments). Have them show you how to use it. If they fumble, retrain.

What Doesn’t Work - And Why

Some people think: “I’ll just wait and see.” Or “I’ll try to wake them up with cold water.” Or “They’re just drunk.” These are deadly myths.

• Ice water, slaps, or shaking: These won’t restart breathing. They can cause injury.
• Waiting for EMS: The average EMS response time in cities is 8-12 minutes. In rural areas, it’s longer. Naloxone works in 2-5 minutes.
• Trying to make them vomit: This can cause choking. Don’t do it.
• Assuming it’s not an overdose: Fentanyl looks like regular pills. People don’t know what they’re taking.

Only naloxone reverses opioid overdoses. Nothing else does.

Common Challenges - And How to Beat Them

Many families avoid making this plan because it feels too heavy. Here’s how to get past the roadblocks:

• “We don’t have opioids in the house.” Even if you don’t take them, someone might visit. Fentanyl is in counterfeit pills sold as oxycodone or Xanax. One pill can kill.
• “It’s too expensive.” With insurance, naloxone is often $0. Without insurance, generic Narcan costs $25-40. Many pharmacies give it away for free. Ask at your local CVS, Walgreens, or public health clinic.
• “We’re embarrassed to talk about it.” This isn’t about shame. It’s about love. You wouldn’t wait to install a smoke detector because you don’t want to think about fire. This is the same.
• “My insurance won’t cover it.” Since 2024, Medicare Part D covers naloxone with $0 copay. Private insurers still sometimes charge $25-50, but many pharmacies offer discount programs. Use GoodRx to find the lowest price.

What Happens After You Use Naloxone

Even if the person wakes up, they still need to go to the hospital. Naloxone wears off after 30 to 90 minutes. Opioids can stay in the body for hours. If the overdose was from fentanyl, the person can slip back into respiratory arrest. This is why monitoring is critical.

After the emergency, families often feel shocked, guilty, or scared. That’s normal. But here’s something powerful: 89% of people who survive an overdose with naloxone go on to seek treatment. Saving a life isn’t the end - it’s the beginning of recovery.

Where to Get Help and Supplies

You don’t have to do this alone.

• Free naloxone kits: Visit your local public health office. In Edmonton, the Alberta Health Services website offers free kits at community pharmacies.
• Pharmacies: CVS, Walgreens, and Shoppers Drug Mart in Canada now carry naloxone without a prescription.
• Online: The National Harm Reduction Coalition (harmreduction.org) ships free naloxone to U.S. residents.
• Training: Search for “naloxone training near me” or visit the American Red Cross website for free online courses.

There’s no excuse not to have it. Not anymore.

Final Thought: Be the Person Who Saves a Life

You don’t need to be brave. You just need to be prepared. If you’re reading this, you care. That’s enough. Make the plan. Buy the naloxone. Teach your family. Keep it simple. Keep it visible. Keep it current.

One day, you might be the reason someone wakes up.