Final answer:
Indicators of an opioid overdose include extreme drowsiness, shallow breathing, inability to respond, limp body, and pale or cold skin. Naloxone (Narcan) is an essential antidote for reversing the effects and should be administered immediately during an overdose.
Step-by-step explanation:
Opioid overdose is a life-threatening condition that results from consuming excessive amounts of opioid drugs, which include substances like opium, heroin, fentanyl, morphine, oxycodone, and various prescription pain relievers. Some potential indicators of an opioid overdose alongside the well-known respiratory depression are extreme drowsiness, shallow or stopped breathing, inability to respond or wake up (unconsciousness), limp body, and a pale, blue, or cold skin due to insufficient oxygen. The use of naloxone (Narcan), an opioid overdose antidote, is critical in these situations as it can reverse the effects of the overdose by blocking opioid receptor sites, thereby helping the person to resume breathing and regain consciousness until emergency medical help arrives. It's also essential to avoid combining opioids with other central nervous system depressants like benzodiazepines to reduce the risk of a fatal overdose.