Emergency
Emergency Resources
If you have an emergency, call 999
Suicide prevention:
I-access drug and alcohol service:
NHS Mental Health Crisis Line:
If you have an emergency, call 999
You can also use these helplines and support websites:
Suicide prevention: 116 123 or visit samaritans.org
I-access drug and alcohol service: 0300 222 5932 or visit surreydrugandalcohol.com
NHS Mental Health Crisis Line: 0800 915 4644 or visit nhs.uk/mental-health
Visit the Safe Havens page for more information about out-of-hours support. There is face-to-face support and virtual support available.
Suicidal Thoughts
There is help available. Suicide often feels like it’s the only solution to your current situation. You may feel very alone, but there is always someone at the end of the phone who you can talk to.
The Samaritans are there to listen and phones are answered by understanding people 24 hours a day. They can also put you in touch with people who can help in your local area and will treat you with utter confidentiality.
Contact The Samaritans on the free helpline 116 123, or visit samaritans.org
Suicidal Thoughts
There is help available. Suicide often feels like it’s the only solution to your current situation. You may feel very alone, but there is always someone at the end of the phone who you can talk to.
The Samaritans are there to listen and phones are answered by understanding people 24 hours a day. They can also put you in touch with people who can help in your local area and will treat you with utter confidentiality.
Contact The Samaritans on the free helpline 116 123, or visit samaritans.org
Advice
Alcohol overdose
- Encourage them to be sick
- Put the person in the recovery position and keep them warm
- Check breathing and airways are clear by looking and listening
- Keep them under observation until you are sure that they are OK
- If in doubt call 999 and ask for an ambulance
Heroin (or other opiate) overdose
- Slow or difficult breathing
- Blue/mauve lips
- Cannot be roused by a gentle slap
- If there is no Naltrexone available call 999 immediately and ask for an ambulance
- If you have Naltrexone then inject into muscle either top of thigh or backside, then call 999 immediately and ask for an ambulance
- Do not use any other drugs until the ambulance arrives
Stimulant overdose
- Symptoms are mental and physical hyperactivity, high temperature and chest pain
- Keep the person as calm as possible
- Ice is good to keep the temperature down – overheating is a real danger
- If there is any chest pain or if you can’t calm the person, call 999 immediately and ask for an ambulance as it is likely the person will need medication to slow the heart and reduce the blood pressure
More Emergency Advice
- Do not wait for things to get better or for the drug to wear off. Call an ambulance. It is always better to be safe than sorry.
- Do not inject salt water: it simply doesn’t work and wastes valuable time.
- Do not try to give anything by mouth (tea, coffee, alcohol) to someone who has overdosed. Apart from not working, you may make them vomit, which is dangerous.
- If someone is unconscious, it is not recommended that you make them vomit. There is a significant risk of them inhaling their vomit and suffocating.
- Do not inject amphetamines or other stimulants to try to reverse the effects of heroin. It doesn’t work and can complicate further emergency procedures.
- Do not put an unconscious person in a bath – they may drown. However, if someone has overdosed on stimulants (particularly Ecstasy), and their body feels very hot, consider using a water soaked cloth to cool them until the ambulance arrives.
- Do not use drugs again after being revived, particularly if Naloxone/Narcan has been used. Narcan may wear off while your first dose is still active. A further depressant drug (heroin, Valium, alcohol, etc) is likely to lead to another overdose.
Advice
Alcohol overdose
- Encourage them to be sick
- Put the person in the recovery position and keep them warm
- Check breathing and airways are clear by looking and listening
- Keep them under observation until you are sure that they are OK
- If in doubt call 999 and ask for an ambulance
Heroin (or other opiate) overdose
- Slow or difficult breathing
- Blue/mauve lips
- Cannot be roused by a gentle slap
- If there is no Naltrexone available call 999 immediately and ask for an ambulance
If you have Naltrexone then inject into muscle either top of thigh or backside, then call 999 immediately and ask for an ambulance
Do not use any other drugs until the ambulance arrives
Stimulant Overdose
- Symptoms are mental and physical hyperactivity, high temperature and chest pain
- Keep the person as calm as possible
- Ice is good to keep the temperature down – overheating is a real danger.
- If there is any chest pain or if you can’t calm the person to calm, call 999 immediately and ask for an ambulance as it is likely the person will need medication to slow the heart and reduce the blood pressure
More Emergency Advice
- Do not wait for things to get better or for the drug to wear off. Call an ambulance. It is always better to be safe than sorry.
- Do not inject salt water: it simply doesn’t work and wastes valuable time.
- Do not try to give anything by mouth (tea, coffee, alcohol) to someone who has overdosed. Apart from not working, you may make them vomit, which is dangerous.
- If someone is unconscious, it is not recommended that you make them vomit. There is a significant risk of them inhaling their vomit and suffocating.
- Do not inject amphetamines or other stimulants to try to reverse the effects of heroin. It doesn’t work and can complicate further emergency procedures.
- Do not put an unconscious person in a bath – they may drown. However, if someone has overdosed on stimulants (particularly Ecstasy), and their body feels very hot, consider using a water soaked cloth to cool them until the ambulance arrives.
- Do not use drugs again after being revived, particularly if Naloxone/Narcan has been used. Narcan may wear off while your first dose is still active. A further depressant drug (heroin, Valium, alcohol, etc) is likely to lead to another overdose.
