How to Create a Family Overdose Emergency Plan for Medications

Every year, more than 100,000 people in the U.S. die from drug overdoses. Most of those deaths involve opioids like fentanyl, and many happen at home-where no one knows what to do. If someone in your family takes prescription pain medication, this isn’t just a distant risk. It’s a real possibility. But here’s the good news: an overdose emergency plan can turn panic into action-and save a life.

Why a Family Overdose Plan Isn’t Just Helpful, It’s Necessary

You don’t need to be a doctor to recognize an overdose. You just need to know the signs and have the tools ready. In 2022, synthetic opioids like fentanyl were involved in over 80% of all overdose deaths. These drugs can knock someone out in under three minutes. If you wait for an ambulance, it might be too late. The average EMS response time in urban areas is 8-10 minutes. In rural areas, it can be 20 or more.

But naloxone-a medication that reverses opioid overdoses-works in 2 to 5 minutes. And it’s not magic. It’s simple. It’s safe. And it’s legal in every state. The problem isn’t access. It’s preparation. Only about 12% of U.S. households with prescription opioids have a plan in place. That means 88% of families are flying blind.

A family overdose plan isn’t about fear. It’s about control. It’s about knowing exactly what to do when seconds count. And it’s not as complicated as you think.

Step 1: Know What Medications Are in Your Home

Start by taking stock. Look in medicine cabinets, nightstands, and purses. Write down every opioid medication someone in your household takes. That includes:

• Oxycodone (OxyContin, Percocet)
• Hydrocodone (Vicodin)
• Morphine
• Fentanyl patches or lozenges
• Buprenorphine (Suboxone)

Note the name, dose, and who it’s prescribed to. If someone takes more than 50 morphine milligram equivalents (MME) per day, the CDC recommends naloxone be kept on hand. That’s about 10 mg of oxycodone daily. If you’re unsure, ask the prescribing doctor.

Don’t forget non-opioid drugs that can make overdoses worse. Benzodiazepines like Xanax or sleep aids like Ambien, combined with opioids, increase the risk of respiratory failure. Keep a separate list of these too.

Step 2: Get Naloxone and Know How to Use It

Naloxone is the key. It’s available as a nasal spray (like Narcan) or an auto-injector (like Evzio). The nasal spray is easiest for most families. You don’t need a prescription in 46 states. You can walk into most CVS, Walgreens, or local pharmacies and ask for it. Many offer it for $25 or less with insurance. Some even give it away for free.

Keep at least two doses at home. Fentanyl is so strong that one dose of naloxone might not be enough. You might need to give a second dose if the person doesn’t wake up after 3-5 minutes.

Store naloxone at room temperature-between 68°F and 77°F. Don’t leave it in the car or the bathroom. Keep it in a drawer or box where everyone knows to look. Put a sticky note on the container: “In case of overdose-pull, spray, call 911.”

Practice using the training device. Most naloxone kits come with a practice spray that has no medicine. Do this with everyone in the house-even teens. Show them how to:

1. Remove the cap
2. Insert the nozzle into one nostril
3. Press the plunger all the way down
4. Remove it and call 911

The Evzio auto-injector talks you through the steps. If you have one, play the demo video on your phone so everyone hears it. Familiarity saves hesitation.

Step 3: Learn the Three Signs of an Overdose

You won’t always hear someone say, “I’m overdosing.” They might just be asleep. But here’s what to look for:

• Unresponsive: Shake their shoulders hard. Yell their name. If they don’t wake up, it’s not sleep.
• Shallow or stopped breathing: Count breaths for 15 seconds. If they take fewer than 4 breaths, it’s an emergency.
• Pinpoint pupils: Look at their eyes in good light. If the black part is tiny like a pinhead, that’s a classic sign.

If you see two or more of these, act. Don’t wait. Don’t check their phone. Don’t try to wake them with cold water. Give naloxone immediately.

Step 4: Follow the A.N.C.H.O.R. Protocol

This is the step-by-step plan every family should memorize. It’s simple, clear, and proven:

• A - Assess: Check for responsiveness and breathing.
• N - Naloxone: Spray one dose into one nostril. If no response in 3 minutes, give a second dose.
• C - Call 911: Even if they wake up, call. Naloxone wears off faster than opioids. They can stop breathing again.
• H - Have more ready: Keep the second dose nearby. Don’t put it away.
• O - Observe: Stay with them. Put them on their side. Watch their breathing. Don’t leave them alone.
• R - Review: After EMS arrives, talk to them. What happened? What meds were taken? This helps future care.

This isn’t just theory. In New York’s Project COPE program, families trained on A.N.C.H.O.R. responded 47 seconds faster on average. That’s the difference between life and death.

Step 5: Prepare Your Emergency Card

Create a laminated card the size of a credit card. Keep it in every wallet, purse, and car. Include:

• Emergency contacts (family, doctor, poison control)
• Names and doses of all opioids in the home
• When the naloxone expires (check every 18 months)
• Step-by-step instructions in bullet form

Put your phone number on it too. If someone finds an unresponsive person, they might not know who they are. This card tells them what to do and who to call.

What About Non-Opioid Overdoses?

Naloxone only works on opioids. It won’t help with alcohol, benzodiazepines, or stimulants like cocaine. But here’s the thing: most fatal overdoses in homes involve opioids-even if other drugs are mixed in. Fentanyl is often added to other pills without the user knowing.

If someone overdoses on something else, you still follow the same steps: check breathing, call 911, give CPR if needed, and stay with them. Naloxone won’t hurt them if they didn’t take opioids. So if you’re unsure, give it anyway.

Common Mistakes Families Make

We’ve seen this too many times:

• Expired naloxone: 31% of families who’ve used it had an expired kit. Check the expiration date. Replace it every 18-24 months.
• Not practicing: 24% of families didn’t know how to use it correctly when it mattered. Practice every few months.
• Waiting too long: 63% of preventable deaths happened because people waited 6-8 minutes before calling 911. Don’t wait for “proof.”
• Keeping it locked up: If it’s in a locked cabinet, it’s useless in an emergency. Keep it accessible.
• Thinking it’s not their problem: 34% of teens aged 14-17 know someone who’s overdosed. This isn’t rare. It’s everywhere.

What Happens After You Use Naloxone?

Many people think, “They woke up. I’m done.” Not true. Naloxone lasts 30-90 minutes. Opioids like fentanyl can last 4-6 hours. That means the person can stop breathing again.

You must stay with them for at least 2 hours after giving naloxone. Monitor their breathing. Keep them on their side. Don’t let them sleep it off. Even if they seem fine, call 911. Emergency responders need to know what happened so they can treat them properly.

Also, 89% of people who survive an overdose with naloxone go on to seek treatment. That’s not a failure. That’s a second chance. Your plan didn’t just save a life-it opened the door to recovery.

Where to Get Help and Training

You don’t have to figure this out alone.

• Visit SAMHSA.gov for free downloadable overdose response guides.
• The American Red Cross offers a free 15-minute online course on overdose response.
• Many pharmacies offer free training when you pick up naloxone.
• Local health departments in Halifax and across Nova Scotia often host free community sessions.

If you’re on Medicare or Medicaid, naloxone is covered with $0 copay under the 2024 Inflation Reduction Act. Private insurers still sometimes charge $25-$50, but many pharmacies now offer discount programs.

Final Thought: Be the Person Who Acts

You won’t need this plan. I hope you never do. But if you do, you’ll be glad you prepared. You won’t be the one standing there, frozen, wondering what to do. You’ll be the one who grabbed the spray, called 911, and stayed with them until help came.

This isn’t about fear. It’s about love. It’s about knowing someone you care about might be one bad pill away from not waking up. And you have the power to change that.