Do not let shame or fear of legal trouble stop you from calling for help. A person's life is worth more than embarrassment.
Step 1: Call Emergency Services
- Call your local emergency number NOW (112 in Europe, 999 in UK, 911 in US/Canada).
- Say: "Someone has collapsed / is not breathing / is unconscious. I think they've taken [substance if known]."
- Give your exact location. Stay on the line.
In many countries, Good Samaritan laws protect you from prosecution when you call for help during a drug emergency. Even where they don't—call anyway.
Step 2: While You Wait
If They Are UNCONSCIOUS but BREATHING:
Recovery position:
- Roll them onto their side (not their back).
- Tilt their head back slightly to keep the airway open. This prevents choking on vomit — the #1 cause of death in GHB/alcohol ODs.
Check for responsiveness: Shout their name loudly and shake their shoulders. If there is no response, check for pain response by rubbing your knuckles hard up and down the center of their chest (a sternal rub). If they don't react, groan, or wake up, this is a medical emergency. Do not assume they are just "sleeping it off" (a G-nap).
Stay with them. Do not leave them alone. Monitor their breathing.
If They Are NOT BREATHING:
- Start CPR if you know how. Chest compressions: hard and fast, centre of the chest, 100–120 per minute.
- If you don't know CPR: the emergency operator will talk you through it. Stay on the line.
Use naloxone (Narcan) if you have it. Across Europe and North America, party drugs (meth, cocaine, ketamine) are increasingly cross-contaminated with lethal synthetic opioids like fentanyl or nitazenes. Administer it now even if you don't think they took an opioid. It cannot harm someone who hasn't taken opioids.
If They Are SEIZING:
- Do NOT hold them down or put anything in their mouth.
- Clear the area around them so they don't hit anything.
- Time the seizure. Tell the paramedics how long it lasted.
Step 3: What to Tell the Paramedics
Be honest. They are there to save a life, not arrest anyone.
- What was taken (GHB, meth, MDMA, poppers, pills — whatever you know).
- How much (approximate).
- When (how long ago).
- What else was mixed (alcohol, other drugs, ED medication).
- Any known medical conditions.
Specific Dangers to Know
| Situation | Key Risk | Immediate Action |
|---|---|---|
| GHB + Alcohol | Respiratory failure — they stop breathing | Recovery position. Call ambulance. Do NOT try to wake them with cold water. |
| Meth + chest pain | Heart attack / cardiac event | Call ambulance. Keep them still and calm. Do not give stimulants. |
| Poppers + Viagra/Cialis | Severe blood pressure drop, fainting | Lay them flat, elevate their legs. Loosen any tight clothing, fetish gear, or harnesses. Call ambulance if they don't wake up in 1–2 minutes. |
| Any stimulant + overheating | Hyperthermia / heatstroke | Cool them down (remove clothing, cool water on skin). Call ambulance. |
After the Crisis
- You did the right thing by getting help. Whatever happens next, you chose someone's life.
- If chemsex situations keep going wrong, talk to someone — a sexual health clinic, a drugs counsellor, or a chemsex-specific support service. No judgement.
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