In an overdose, doctors need to know about the person’s breathing, level of consciousness and symptoms; the exact name of the substance is less important. Call 112 or 118 and say plainly that drug use may be involved. The dispatcher will send the appropriate team and tell you what to do until it arrives. If you do not know what was taken, say so.
When to call 112 for an overdose in Italy
Call 112 or 118 if the person is unresponsive, is breathing slowly or irregularly, is turning blue, loses consciousness, has a seizure, has severe chest pain, becomes extremely agitated or is overheating. Use the same numbers if the substance is unknown or if drugs may have been mixed with alcohol or medicines.
Call 112What to do before the ambulance arrives
- Check that there are no needles, powder, broken glass, moving vehicles or other hazards to you or the person.
- Call the person by name, gently touch their shoulder and see whether they respond.
- Open the airway: tilt the head back slightly and lift the chin. Look and listen for normal breathing for no more than 10 seconds.
- If the person is breathing but does not regain consciousness, place them on their side with the head tilted slightly back.
- If they are not breathing normally or are only gasping occasionally, tell the dispatcher immediately and follow the resuscitation instructions.
- Do not give food, water, coffee or any other substance. Do not induce vomiting or put the person in a bath or shower.
- Do not leave them to “sleep it off”. Stay with them and keep checking their breathing and responsiveness.
- Do not delay the emergency call to clean the room or dispose of the substance.
Signs of drug overdose
- the person cannot be woken, stops responding or suddenly loses consciousness;
- breathing is slow, shallow, irregular or absent;
- there are gurgling or choking sounds, or loud “snoring” without waking;
- the skin is cold and clammy, or the lips or nails are pale, blue or grey;
- vomiting, choking or seizures occur;
- the heartbeat is very fast, very slow or irregular;
- the person is extremely hot, has chest pain, is severely confused or highly agitated.
Opioids more commonly cause pinpoint pupils, very slow or absent breathing, gurgling sounds or loud snoring, blue or grey lips and nails, and an inability to wake the person.
Cocaine, amphetamines and methamphetamine can cause extreme agitation, confusion, panic, chest pain, a rapid heartbeat, rapid breathing, overheating, seizures or signs of a stroke. The person may remain conscious.
MDMA is particularly dangerous when it causes overheating, confusion, seizures, chest pain or loss of consciousness. GHB and other sedatives can rapidly cause profound drowsiness and impaired breathing. With LSD and other psychedelics, the main risks are panic, unsafe behaviour, injury and overheating.
In practice, the contents of a substance are often unknown or mixed. Your observations, the time it was taken and any packaging are therefore more useful to the doctor than a guess about its name.
If a person is unconscious after drugs
When someone is unconscious, their muscles relax and the tongue may obstruct the airway. Do not try to pull the tongue out with your fingers and do not put anything in the person’s mouth. Tilt the head back slightly, lift the chin and check for normal breathing: watch for chest movement, listen at the mouth and nose, and feel for breath against your cheek.
If the person is breathing normally, turn them onto their side. Keep the head tilted slightly back and the mouth facing downwards. This keeps the airway open and allows vomit to drain away, reducing the risk of choking. Continue to check their breathing until the ambulance arrives.
If the person is not breathing normally, put your phone on speaker and immediately follow the 112 dispatcher’s instructions for rescue breaths and chest compressions. Ask someone else to bring an automated external defibrillator, if one is available at the venue, and follow the device’s spoken instructions.
First aid for seizures after drugs
Move chairs, glass and other objects out of the way. Place folded clothing beneath the person’s head and note when the seizure begins. Do not restrain their arms or legs, force their teeth apart or put anything in their mouth. Once the seizure stops, check their breathing; if it is normal, turn them onto their side. Tell the 112 dispatcher how long the seizure lasted and whether it has happened more than once.
Overheating and severe agitation after drugs
If the person may be reacting to cocaine, amphetamine, methamphetamine or MDMA, and it is safe to move them, take them away from heat, loud music and bright lights to a cooler, quieter place. Remove excess outer clothing, apply a cool damp cloth and improve airflow. Keep crowds away, speak in short, calm sentences and do not restrain the person by force. Chest pain, a high temperature, seizures, severe confusion or signs of a stroke require an immediate call to 112.
Naloxone in suspected opioid overdose
Naloxone can temporarily restore breathing in an opioid overdose. Call 112 first, then administer it according to the device instructions or the dispatcher’s directions. If the person does not respond, another dose may be needed after the interval stated in the instructions. Naloxone does not work on alcohol, benzodiazepines, cocaine or amphetamines, but an unknown mixture may contain opioids.
Even if the person wakes and begins to breathe, stay with them and wait for the ambulance. Naloxone’s effect is temporary and breathing may become depressed again. Tell the medical team how many doses were given and at what times.
Packaging and substance residue for doctors
Tell the dispatcher where any packaging, tablet, powder or used device is located. Leave closed packaging as you found it, and do not touch needles or exposed powder. When the ambulance team arrives, they will say which items may help identify the substance and guide treatment.
What to tell the doctor in case of overdose
Give the suspected substance, how it was taken, and the time and amount if known. List alcohol, medicines and any other substances separately. Mention allergies and chronic conditions, when the person’s behaviour changed, when any seizure or breathing problem began, and how many doses of naloxone were given.
Useful phrases for reporting an overdose to 112
- Ho avuto un’overdose.oh ah-VOO-toh oo-noh-ver-DOHZI have overdosed.
- Abbiamo bisogno di un’ambulanza.ab-BYAH-moh bee-ZOH-nyoh dee oo-nam-boo-LAN-tsahWe need an ambulance.
- Siamo a Rimini, in via…SYAH-moh ah REE-mee-nee een VEE-ah…We are in Rimini, on Via…
- Credo che sia un’overdose.KREH-doh keh SEE-ah oo-noh-ver-DOHZI think this is an overdose.
- Non sappiamo che sostanza abbia preso.non sap-PYAH-moh keh soh-STAN-tsah AB-byah PREH-zohWe do not know what substance they took.
- Non risponde e respira lentamente.non ree-SPON-deh eh reh-SPEE-rah len-tah-MEN-tehThey are unresponsive and breathing slowly.
- Non respira.non reh-SPEE-rahThey are not breathing.
- Ha preso cocaina / MDMA / metanfetamina.ah PREH-zoh koh-kah-EE-nah / EM-meh dee EM-meh ah / meh-tan-feh-tah-MEE-nahThey took cocaine / MDMA / methamphetamine.
- La sostanza rimasta è sul tavolo.lah soh-STAN-tsah ree-MAH-stah eh sool TAH-voh-lohThe remaining substance is on the table.
Frequently asked questions about overdose in Italy
When should I call 112 for a drug overdose in Italy?
Call immediately if someone becomes unwell after taking a drug or unknown substance, is difficult to wake, or is breathing slowly, irregularly or not at all.
Which signs of an opioid overdose require a call to 112 in Italy?
The person cannot be woken, is breathing very slowly or not at all, makes gurgling sounds or snores loudly, has blue or grey lips and nails, or has pinpoint pupils. Call 112 immediately and, if naloxone is available, use it according to the device instructions or the dispatcher’s directions.
What should I do if someone has a drug-related seizure before the ambulance arrives?
Move dangerous objects away, cushion the person’s head with something soft and note when the seizure begins. Do not restrain them or put anything in their mouth. Once the seizure stops, check their breathing and, if it is normal, turn them onto their side.
What should I do with any remaining substance after an overdose in Italy?
Do not dispose of it. Do not touch powder, needles or open packaging with bare hands. Tell the 112 dispatcher and give it to the medical team only as directed.
Should I induce vomiting after a drug overdose in Italy?
No. The person could choke. Do not give anything by mouth to someone whose level of consciousness is reduced.
Official sources
- Italian National Institute of Health: dangerous signs of overdose and calling 112 or 118
- Italian National Institute of Health: risks from opioids, stimulants and other psychoactive substances
- Italian Red Cross: loss of consciousness, breathing and the recovery position
- Italian Red Cross: first aid for seizures
- European Union Drugs Agency: how naloxone works and its limitations
- Italian Ministry of Health: emergency numbers 112 and 118
Sources checked on 23 August 2026. Symptoms cannot reliably identify the substance or dose; if an overdose is suspected, call 112 or 118 first.
Need an interpreter for a medical or police conversation?
After calling 112, contact me to ask about interpreting availability. I can help you explain what may have been taken and when, changes in breathing, any seizures and the naloxone doses given, and interpret a conversation with the police if needed.