Opioid overdose is a topic surrounded by fear and misinformation. If you or someone you love is struggling with opioid addiction, separating fact from fiction is one of the most important things you can do. Misconceptions don’t just create stigma; they can cost lives. Let’s walk through some of 5 myths myths about opioid overdose and uncover the truth, so you have the knowledge you need to stay safe and find help.
1. Experienced opioid users won’t overdose
One of the most dangerous myths is that people who have used opioids for a long time build up a tolerance that protects them from an overdose. This simply isn’t true. Tolerance to opioids can change quickly, especially after a period of abstinence, like after leaving detox or jail. More importantly, the supply of illicit drugs is dangerously unpredictable.
Many street drugs are contaminated with fentanyl, a synthetic opioid that is 50 times stronger than heroin. Even a tiny amount can be lethal, making every use a serious risk, no matter a person’s history with addiction. For anyone facing opioid addiction in Indiana, understanding this risk is the first step toward safety.
2. You can’t overdose on prescription drugs
While many people believe a doctor’s prescription makes a drug safe, that doesn’t eliminate the risk of overdose. Taking opioids in higher doses, more frequently, or for longer than prescribed significantly increases this risk. The danger is compounded by the rise of counterfeit pills, which can look exactly like legitimate prescription medication but often contain deadly amounts of fentanyl.
Furthermore, mixing prescription opioids with other substances like alcohol or benzodiazepines can be fatal. According to the National Institute on Drug Abuse, this combination greatly increases the risk of respiratory depression, coma, and death.
3. Splashing cold water on the person will help reverse an overdose
During an overdose, a person’s breathing slows down or stops completely. Folk remedies like splashing cold water, slapping someone, or trying to make them walk around do not work because they don’t address the core issue: respiratory depression. The only thing that can reverse an opioid overdose is a medication called naloxone (often known by the brand name Narcan).
If you suspect an overdose, the right steps are to call 911 immediately, administer naloxone if you have it, and stay with the person until emergency medical help arrives.
4. Access to naloxone encourages drug use and increases overdoses
This myth comes from stigma, not facts. No evidence that having access to naloxone encourages people to use more drugs. It’s best to think of naloxone like a fire extinguisher or an EpiPen; it’s a safety tool designed to save a life during an emergency.
Widespread access to naloxone is a proven public health strategy that reduces overdose deaths and gives people a chance to seek treatment and begin their recovery journey. It’s about keeping people alive, so they have the opportunity to heal, especially when a loved one is addicted, and you’re trying to support them.
5. Overdose is only an urban problem
Addiction doesn’t care about your zip code. The opioid crisis is a nationwide problem that affects urban, suburban, and rural communities alike. In fact, many rural counties have been hit particularly hard and may have higher overdose rates than some cities due to limited access to emergency care and treatment resources.
Believing that overdose only happens in certain places creates dangerous blind spots. All communities must have the resources and education needed to prevent overdose deaths. Help should be available everywhere, which is why we’re proud to serve communities across Indiana through our various service areas.
Help in Indiana for opioid use disorder
The opioid overdose crisis continues to affect individuals and families across Indiana, with opioid overdose deaths involving prescription drugs, heroin, fentanyl, and other synthetic opioids contributing to rising overdose deaths nationwide. Opioid use disorder is a medical condition, not a moral failure, and people experiencing opioid addiction deserve access to effective treatments, life-saving care, and evidence-based support. For individuals at higher risk of drug overdose or opioid-related deaths, timely medical attention and connection to appropriate treatment can be life-changing and, in some cases, life-saving.
Levels of care that support recovery and safety
At Red Ribbon Recovery Indiana, we’re dedicated to helping you start your recovery journey. Our recommended partial hospitalization program offers access to a higher level of structure for individuals facing severe substance use, opioid misuse, or co-occurring mental health conditions, while still allowing clients to return home in the evenings.
For those who need continued support but less daily intensity, intensive outpatient treatment (IOP) provides flexibility while addressing opioid addiction, substance abuse, and relapse prevention. These programs may be appropriate for people recovering from prescription opioids such as oxycodone or morphine, as well as illicit drugs like heroin or fentanyl, depending on individual risk and stability.
Dual diagnosis care and evidence-based treatment options
Because opioid use disorder often overlaps with anxiety, depression, or other mental health conditions, at Red Ribbon Recovery Indiana, we emphasize the importance of dual diagnosis treatment. Addressing both substance use and mental health together can reduce overdose risk and support long-term recovery.
Clients may also be connected to evidence-based therapies and medication-assisted treatment options, such as methadone or buprenorphine, when clinically appropriate and recommended by healthcare providers.
Frequently asked questions
Anyone using opioids is at risk, including people taking prescription medications for acute or chronic pain. Risk increases with higher doses, opioid misuse, combining opioids with alcohol or other drugs, changes in tolerance, and underlying health conditions. Individuals with opioid use disorder face a higher risk, but overdose can also occur in people without addiction.
Common signs of opioid overdose include slowed or irregular breathing, extreme drowsiness, blue or gray lips or fingernails, pinpoint pupils, and unresponsiveness. Some people may appear to be sleeping but cannot be awakened. Recognizing these symptoms early is critical to getting life-saving care.
Opioid overdose is treated with emergency medical care and often the medication naloxone, which can rapidly reverse the effects of opioids. Naloxone restores breathing long enough for a person to receive further medical evaluation and treatment. After stabilization, healthcare providers may recommend addiction treatment and follow-up care to reduce future risk.
Yes, addiction treatment significantly reduces the risk of opioid overdose deaths. Medication-assisted treatment using methadone or buprenorphine helps stabilize opioid use disorder, lowers relapse risk, and improves long-term recovery outcomes. Ongoing treatment, mental health support, and improved access to care are essential parts of overdose prevention.
Beyond the myths: finding a path to recovery
These myths create real barriers that can prevent people from getting the life-saving care they need. The truth is, recovery from opioid use disorder is possible with the right support. Understanding the truth about opioid overdose is a powerful step toward safety and healing. If you or a loved one is struggling, please know that you are not alone and effective help is available. Our team at Red Ribbon Recovery Indiana is here to provide compassionate, evidence-based care to guide you on the path to recovery. Don’t let myths stand in the way of a new beginning. Give us a call at (317) 707-9848 or contact us today.
Sources
- Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. (September 1, 2023). Drug overdose deaths with evidence of counterfeit pill use – CDC. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
- Drug Enforcement Administration. Counterfeit pills fact sheet – DEA Diversion Control Division. DEA Diversion Control Division.
- National Institute on Drug Abuse. (November 7, 2022). Benzodiazepines and opioids. National Institute on Drug Abuse.
- Food and Drug Administration. (August 31, 2016). FDA warns about serious risks and death when combining opioid pain or cough medicines with benzodiazepines; requires labeling changes. Food and Drug Administration.
- Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. (June 9, 2025). Understanding the opioid overdose epidemic – CDC. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
- National Institute on Drug Abuse. (August 21, 2024). Drug overdose deaths: Facts and figures. National Institute on Drug Abuse.
- Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. (January 4, 2019). Drug and opioid-involved overdose deaths — United States, 2013–2017. Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report.
- Indiana Department of Health. (March 31, 2021). Indiana drug overdose dashboard. Indiana Department of Health.
- National Library of Medicine. (March 10, 2014). Barriers to substance abuse treatment in rural and urban communities: Before and after policy change in the United States. Substance Abuse and Rehabilitation.
- Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration. (June 9, 2023). National helpline for mental health, drug, alcohol issues – SAMHSA. Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration.
