You’re standing in the middle of Los Santos, your phone is ringing off the hook, and you’re probably wondering why the hell you haven't seen the prompt to finish the drug wars storyline yet. It's annoying. Rockstar doesn’t always make it obvious. If you've been grinding through the Los Santos Drug Wars update, you know that the transition from the First Dose to the "Last Dose" is supposed to be seamless, but it rarely feels that way if you took a break between sessions.
Basically, to figure out how to start Last Dose missions, you need to have your house in order first. You can't just jump into the finale. You have to be the boss.
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The Prerequisites Most People Forget
First thing's first: you have to finish the "First Dose" storyline. There are six missions in that initial batch. If you haven't seen the credits roll on that specific mini-campaign, Dax isn't going to give you the time of day for the next chapter. It starts with "Welcome to the Troupe" and ends with "Off the Rails." If you haven't hijacked that train yet, stop reading this and go find the yellow "D" on your map near Sandy Shores.
Wait.
There's more. After you finish those six missions, the game forces a waiting period on you. You can't just chain them together like a Netflix binge. You actually have to leave the Freakshop and wait in Freemode. Usually, it takes about 5 to 10 minutes of real-world time. Don't just sit in your car; go rob a store or get into a police chase. Eventually, Dax will call you. If he doesn’t call, you aren’t starting anything.
Triggering the First Mission: This Is Intervention
Once Dax finally decides to buzz your phone, the Last Dose officially begins with a mission called "This Is Intervention."
To actually get it moving, look for the yellow "D" icon on your map. Here’s the kicker though—it’s not at the Freakshop this time. A lot of players get confused and drive straight to their base of operations only to find nothing there. For the start of the Last Dose, the marker usually spawns near Dax’s location or triggers a specific contact mission start point.
Open your map. Filter for "Missions." If you see a yellow "D" that isn't inside a building icon, that’s your target.
Why the Freakshop is Quiet
Sometimes the game glitches out. It happens. If you’ve finished First Dose and waited an hour but still don't know how to start Last Dose missions, try force-saving the game. Change your outfit via the Interaction Menu. This forces a cloud save (look for the orange spinning circle in the bottom right). Once that’s done, find a new session.
Coming back into a fresh lobby often "wakes up" the script that triggers Dax’s phone call.
Walking Through the Mission Chain
The Last Dose isn't just a single hit. It’s a five-mission narrative arc that gets increasingly psychedelic and, honestly, pretty difficult if you’re playing solo.
- This Is Intervention: You’re basically defending the Freakshop from a bunch of intruders. It’s a standard shootout, but bring armor. Lots of it.
- FriedMind: This is where you start investigating who is actually messing with the Fooliganz. It involves a lot of stealth—or a lot of explosions, depending on your playstyle.
- Checking In: You’ll head to a rehab center. It sounds boring. It isn’t.
- FriedMind (The Raid): You’re going into the corporate headquarters.
- BDKD: The big finale.
You’ve got to do these in order. You can’t skip to the end just because you want the reward. Speaking of rewards, that’s usually why everyone is asking how to start Last Dose missions in the first place. They want the car.
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The Ocelot Virtue: Your Massive Reward
The main reason to suffer through these missions is the Ocelot Virtue. It’s an all-electric supercar that is legitimately one of the best vehicles in the game because it can be equipped with Imani Tech. That means you can put a Missile Lock-on Jammer on it, making you a nightmare for Oppressor Mk II griefers.
Once you finish the final mission, "BDKD," stay in the session. Don't quit. Don't jump into a race.
Dax will call you one last time to tell you that a "gift" is waiting for you. A personal vehicle icon (a little car) will appear on your map. Go to it, get in, and drive it into one of your garages. It’s yours for free. If you bought this car from Legendary Motorsport, it would cost you nearly 3 million GTA dollars. Doing these missions is basically the best hourly wage you can get in Los Santos.
Troubleshooting Common Start Issues
If you’re still stuck and the "D" won't show up, check your rank. While there isn't a massive level cap, being under Rank 20 can sometimes cause issues with certain contact triggers.
Also, make sure you aren't currently "Active" in another mission or heist setup. If you have an active heist invite from Lester or Pavel, sometimes the game's priority system gets clogged. Clear your phone invites.
Another tip: Check your "Jobs" menu.
- Press Options/Start.
- Go to Online.
- Select Jobs -> Play Job -> Rockstar Created -> Missions.
- Scroll through the list.
If "This Is Intervention" is in that list, you can actually launch it directly from the menu without waiting for the phone call. This is a pro-level workaround for when the Freemode triggers are being stubborn.
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Actionable Next Steps to Take Now
To get this done efficiently, follow this exact sequence:
- Verify Completion: Go to your stats and ensure all 6 First Dose missions are checked off.
- Clear the Area: Exit any interiors (apartments, garages, the Freakshop).
- Wait for the Buzz: Stand still in Freemode for 5-10 minutes.
- Check the Map: Look for the yellow "D" near the Ron Alternates Wind Farm or the Freakshop exterior.
- Stock Up: Before starting "This Is Intervention," hit Ammu-Nation. Buy all the heavy armor you can carry and max out your snacks at an Auto Shop or Office. The NPCs in the Last Dose have "aimbot" levels of accuracy and will melt your health bar in seconds.
- Claim the Car: After the fifth mission, wait for the call from Dax. Do not ignore the car icon on the map; it’s a one-time spawn to claim your free Ocelot Virtue.
By following this, you stop wasting time wandering around the map and get straight into the content that actually pays out.