Which immediate response is crucial when a person demonstrates signs of an opioid overdose?

Administering naloxone is the most critical and immediate response when someone shows signs of an opioid overdose. Naloxone is an opioid antagonist that works by rapidly reversing the effects of opioids. This can restore normal breathing and consciousness, which are often severely impaired during an overdose. By acting quickly to reduce the effects of the opioids in the system, naloxone can prevent further complications, such as brain damage or death due to hypoxia caused by respiratory depression.

While other interventions such as chest compressions, supplemental oxygen, or obtaining a detailed medical history may be necessary in certain situations, the immediate intervention to counteract an opioid overdose is the administration of naloxone. It is specifically designed to act quickly in emergencies and can be life-saving when used promptly.