Yes. Most people know about overdose deaths due to heroin and prescription opioids, but you can overdose on nearly any substance. This includes – but is not limited to – taking too many prescription stimulants like Adderall; alcohol poisoning from drinking too much; and even accidental overdoses due to the presence of fentanyl (an incredibly lethal opioid) in another substance.

Fentanyl is an opioid, like heroin or morphine – but it is 50-100 times stronger. Illegally manufactured fentanyl has been increasingly added to street drugs like cocaine, heroin, and methamphetamine, making them cheaper, more addictive, and more lethal. This has caused a significant spike in accidental overdose deaths, as people taking a drug laced with fentanyl were not even aware that it was present.

Because it is not recognizable by sight, smell, or taste, the only way to identify the presence of fentanyl is by using test strips.

In most states (including Florida), anyone over the age of 18 can carry and administer NARCAN. Contact your local Health Department for more information about availability and trainings in your area.

Someone who is passed out from taking too much of a substance runs the risk of choking if they vomit while laying on their back. They may not wake up to expel the vomit from their mouth, which is extremely dangerous. You can help by rolling someone who is passed out onto his or her side, and placing a pillow in front of them and behind them, so that the choking risk is reduced.

You don’t need to hesitate to call 9-1-1 for help in an overdose situation. The 9-1-1 Good Samaritan Act protects you from legal action when you call for lifesaving medical support for another person.