We were at my friend's place. He snorted what he said was heroin — I don't use opioids but I was there. Within two minutes his lips turned blue. He made a gurgling sound and stopped moving. His breathing went from slow to absent.
T+0:02 I called 911 immediately. I keep naloxone in my bag — two 4mg nasal sprays. I tilted his head back, inserted the nozzle, and pressed. Nothing. Put him in recovery position. At T+0:05 I administered the second dose.
T+0:06 he gasped. His eyes opened but he was confused and combative — this is normal with naloxone reversal. I held him on his side and talked to him until the paramedics arrived three minutes later.
He survived. He's in treatment now. But I cannot describe watching someone you care about stop breathing. The color draining from their face. The silence where breathing should be.
Carry naloxone. It's available without prescription in most states. Learn how to use it before you need to. Practice the recovery position. Know that naloxone wears off in 30-90 minutes and the person can stop breathing again — always call 911 even if they wake up.
Good Samaritan laws protect you in most jurisdictions. Never hesitate.