Overdose Awareness

Ayuda para el uso de sustancias durante el embarazo

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Health care professionals may use the content below as a reference when assisting individuals and families. Please do not share links to these pages directly with clients.

If you're pregnant and worried about opioid use, support is available. Here you'll find resources and information that can help parents and their baby be healthy.

Fentanyl is causing overdose deaths and it's in most opioids that aren't from a pharmacy. If a drug doesn't come from a pharmacy or cannabis dispensary, assume it has fentanyl and keep naloxone with you. You can't taste, smell or see fentanyl if it's been added to a drug. If you are using opioids like blue M30s, also assume they have fentanyl. It's less likely that other drugs like methamphetamine or cocaine have fentanyl in them, but they could.

What you can do to protect yourself

Keep naloxone with you, it could save your life

Naloxone can rapidly reverse an opioid overdose and can save your life (as well as the life of your baby). Check the naloxone section below for details on how to get it for free.

Know what to do in an overdose

Know the signs and symptoms:

Won't wake up
Slow or no breathing
Choking sounds or snore like a gurgle
Pale, ashy, cool skin
Blue or gray lips or fingernails

Know what to do:

Call 911
Give naloxone
If they wake up and start breathing, stay with them and encourage them to seek medical care

Use the buddy system

When you can, use around other people. Go one at a time using a buddy system. If you do use alone, try calling a friend or using this online service

Never Use Alone – Meeting people where they are, on the other end of the line, one human connection at a time.

Use one drug at a time, or use less of each drug

Try to only use one substance at a time to reduce your chance of overdosing.

Set personal limits

Writing down how much you use can help you reduce your use. Setting limits on where and who you use with can help you stay safe, like only using with a friend.

Take it slower

Do smaller amounts at a time.

Get Naloxone for Free, It Could Save Your Life

Naloxone can rapidly reverse an opioid overdose and can save your life (as well as the life of your baby).

Get naloxone mailed to you for free: The People's Harm Reduction Alliance

Places you can go to get free naloxone: Find naloxone near you at stopoverdose.org

How to use naloxone: Opioid overdose prevention & directions for Naloxone use (wa.gov)

Four Things You Can Do If You Are Pregnant And Use Drugs

Get prenatal care
Reduce your use
Use medications for opioid use disorder
Take care of yourself

View National Perinatal Association Infographic

Find Treatment Options

You’re not alone, there are people that can help. You can find providers who know about medications that can help you stop using opioids www.warecoveryhelpline.org/moud-locator

WA Recovery Helpline 1-866-789-1511 | Pregnant & Parenting Recovery Services Locator

*Provided by The Washington Recovery Help Line - a program of Crisis Connections. Offering an anonymous, confidential 24-hour help line for Washington State residents. This help line is for those experiencing substance use disorder, problem gambling, and/or a mental health challenge. professionally-trained volunteers and staff provide emotional support. They can also connect callers with local treatment resources or more community services.

If You Wish to Stop Using Drugs During Pregnancy, Get Help at These Places

It's best for your baby if you don't stop using drugs abruptly. These places can help you reduce and stop your use slowly and safely during pregnancy.