Using fentanyl or other opioids comes with risks, but there are ways you can keep yourself – and others who use opioids – safe. By reading this page you’re already taking the first step: thinking ahead about when, where, and how you use.
Carry naloxone
Carry naloxone
Naloxone is a medication that can reverse an opioid overdose. It’s easy to use, small enough to carry with you, and safe to give to people of all ages if they are not breathing and not responding to you. The only catch? If you OD, you can’t use naloxone on yourself, so be sure that the people around you know where your naloxone is and how to use it.
Naloxone comes as both a nasal spray and an intramuscular injection. Both are effective, so carry whichever is easiest to find or you are most comfortable using.
Although it’s not harmful to use naloxone on anyone, including infants, children or pets, it is only effective in reversing an opioid overdose.
Use with others when you can
Use with others when you can
It’s safer to use drugs around others and take turns when using. That way, if you – or someone you are with -begins to overdose, there is someone ready to give naloxone and find help.
Talk to people you trust about how to recognize an overdose, where they can get naloxone, and how to use it to reverse an overdose.
If you use alone
Communicate
Whenever possible, tell someone you trust when you plan to use and where you’ll be.
Stay accessible
Use somewhere you feel safe that also allows others to get to or find you if you need help.
Leave the door unlocked if possible, and have naloxone nearby, in case others don’t have it on hand.
Go low and slow
When using any drug, start with a small dose and wait to see how you feel before taking more. If you have taken a break from using fentanyl or other opioids and begin using again, this could be especially important as your tolerance will have gone down.
Try the Never Use Alone hotline (1-800-484-3731)
A stigma-free volunteer call center with operators available 24/7 who will stay on the line with you while you use and make sure you’re ok.
Visit the websiteAssume your drugs contain fentanyl
Fentanyl could be in any drug you buy on the street or online. It’s often mixed into powders as well as counterfeit pills that look like real prescription drugs, in an unpredictable way. Even if you’re expecting fentanyl, the amount and strength can vary, increasing your risk of an overdose.
If you didn’t get your drugs from a pharmacy, assume they contain fentanyl and take precautions: have naloxone with you, use with others if possible, and go low and slow.
Use fentanyl test strips
You can’t see, taste, or smell if your drugs contain fentanyl. Test strips are a good way to check if your drugs may contain fentanyl, but they have some limitations. Since fentanyl is never evenly mixed into drugs, a negative test using a portion of a pill or powder supply doesn’t mean your drugs are fentanyl-free. Be sure to take other precautions to reduce your risk of an overdose. See instructions on how to use fentanyl test strips.
Many syringe services provide free test strips. Find a location and call ahead to check availability.
Find a location
Be prepared to reverse an overdose
Check out our step-by-step guide on how to use naloxone.
Reverse an overdose