What is the antidote for opioid drugs?

The correct choice is naloxone, which is a specific opioid antagonist used to reverse the effects of opioid overdose. Naloxone works by competitively binding to the same receptors in the brain that opioids bind to, effectively displacing them and blocking their effects. This can rapidly restore normal respiration in a person whose breathing has slowed or stopped due to opioid use, making it a critical medication in emergency situations involving opioid overdose.

Activated charcoal is sometimes used in cases of poisoning to absorb drugs in the gastrointestinal tract, but it is not specific to opioids and does not counteract their effects once they have entered the bloodstream. Flumazenil is an antagonist for benzodiazepines and is not effective for opioids, as it does not interact with the opioid receptors. Vitamin K is used to treat certain types of bleeding disorders, particularly related to anticoagulant overdose, but is irrelevant in the context of opioid overdose. Understanding these distinctions highlights why naloxone is the go-to antidote for opioid-related emergencies.