Overdose deaths have fallen significantly in Montgomery County, but knowing how to recognize an overdose, respond quickly, and reduce the stigma surrounding addiction can still save lives.
Reviewed by: Kamilah Mathieu, LSW, LICDC, Behavioral Health Manager
Published: August 2026
Updated: September 2026
DAYTON, Ohio — Montgomery County has made significant progress in reducing overdose deaths, but addiction and overdose remain a reality for families throughout the Miami Valley.
For Overdose Awareness Day, Kamilah Mathieu, LSW, LICDC, Behavioral Health Manager with BrightView Health, joined WDTN to discuss the progress being made locally, common misconceptions about addiction, the lifesaving role of naloxone, and how to recognize the signs that someone may be experiencing an overdose.
“Montgomery County Coroner recorded 155 accidental drug overdose deaths in 2025, and that’s amazing because it’s 73% below the 2017 peak,” Mathieu said. “But that’s still nearly three people every week. So, a lower number doesn’t necessarily mean that the crisis is over.”
Watch Kamilah Mathieu’s full interview with WDTN
READ MORE: Dayton Overdose Deaths Fall as Stimulant Risks Grow
Progress Does Not Mean the Overdose Crisis Is Over
Montgomery County was one of the communities hit hardest during the height of the opioid epidemic. The decline from the county’s 2017 peak is encouraging and reflects years of work by public health agencies, treatment providers, first responders, community organizations, families, and people in recovery.
However, Mathieu cautioned against interpreting fewer deaths as fewer people struggling with substance use disorder.
Overdose risks also continue to change as the drug supply changes. Opioids such as fentanyl remain a major concern, while stimulant use involving substances such as cocaine and methamphetamine creates different medical emergencies and can complicate overdose response.
That makes education increasingly important, not only for people who use substances, but also for their families, friends, coworkers, and other members of the community.
Addiction Is a Medical Condition, Not a Moral Failure
One of the most persistent barriers to addiction treatment is stigma.
Mathieu told WDTN that people still encounter the misconception that addiction is simply the result of poor choices or a lack of willpower.
“Substance use disorder is a chronic and treatable medical condition,” Mathieu said. “That stigma can actually make people less likely to seek treatment.”
The way communities talk about addiction matters. Shame and judgment can discourage someone from telling a family member they are struggling, asking a healthcare provider for help, or walking through the doors of a treatment center.
“We would never tell anyone with another chronic illness that they have to get sicker before they deserve treatment,” Mathieu said. “Addiction should be no different.”
READ MORE: The Science of Recovery: Why Addiction Is Healthcare, Not a Choice
What Is Naloxone and Why Is It Important?
Naloxone is a medication that can rapidly reverse the effects of an opioid overdose. Nasal naloxone is easy to administer, and people do not need to be healthcare professionals to carry or use it.
“Anyone can carry it. Anyone can administer it,” Mathieu said. “You can get this at your local pharmacy, and it truly can help save lives.”
Naloxone only reverses the effects of opioids. It does not reverse a stimulant overdose. However, because people may not always know what substances were taken or whether an opioid such as fentanyl was involved, naloxone should be administered when an opioid overdose is suspected.
Giving naloxone to someone who has not taken an opioid will not harm them.
Most importantly, naloxone is not a replacement for emergency medical care. Always call 911 when an overdose is suspected, even if the person responds to naloxone.
READ MORE: Understanding Overdose: Risk Factors, Warning Signs, and How to Save a Life
What Does an Opioid Overdose Look Like?
Recognizing the signs of an overdose can help someone act before it is too late.
Signs of an Opioid Overdose
Someone experiencing an opioid overdose may:
- Be unconscious, unresponsive, or difficult to wake
- Have very slow, weak, or stopped breathing
- Make choking, snoring, or gurgling sounds
- Have blue, purple, or discolored lips or fingernails
- Have a limp body
- Have small or “pinpoint” pupils
If someone cannot be awakened and is not breathing normally, treat the situation as a medical emergency.
A Stimulant Overdose Can Look Different
Not every overdose looks the same.
Stimulants such as cocaine and methamphetamine affect the body differently than opioids, and stimulant toxicity may present as a cardiovascular, neurological, or behavioral emergency.
Signs of a Stimulant Overdose
Mathieu said warning signs can include:
- Severe agitation or irritability
- Confusion
- Chest pain
- Rapid or irregular heartbeat
- Rapid or abnormal breathing
- Other signs of a serious cardiac or medical emergency
Because different substances can also be used together, it may not always be clear what someone has taken.
What Should You Do If You Suspect an Overdose?
If you believe someone may be experiencing an overdose:
- Call 911 immediately.
- Give naloxone if it is available and an opioid overdose is possible.
- Check the person’s breathing.
- Begin CPR if the person is not breathing or breathing is very weak and you are trained to do so.
- Stay with the person until emergency help arrives.
When in doubt, act.
Minutes can make the difference between a fatal overdose and another opportunity for treatment and recovery.
Overdose Prevention Also Means Making Treatment Easier to Reach
Overdose awareness is not only about responding during an emergency. It is also about helping people access treatment before an emergency occurs.
Substance use disorder is treatable, and recovery can begin at many different points in a person’s life. People do not have to reach a certain level of illness, lose everything, or experience an overdose before they are “ready” or deserving of care.
BrightView provides comprehensive outpatient addiction treatment in the Dayton area, including medication, counseling, and social support based on each patient’s individual needs.
For people struggling with drug or alcohol use, or families unsure what to do next, reaching out for information can be the first step.
