As EMS employees in Washington, we’re within the discipline day by day realizing we’ll seemingly reply to an opioid overdose name. With the rise of artificial opioids like fentanyl, the calls hold coming. In 2024, emergency medical providers responses for suspected opioid overdose increased by 39% in Washington.
For years, first responders in Washington have struggled to deal with sufferers with opioid use dysfunction. We may solely administer naloxone, or Narcan, to revive a affected person after an overdose and provide transport to the hospital. When sufferers refused, we had no alternative however to drive away, often leaving the affected person in painful opioid withdrawal.
I’ve left a affected person many instances anticipating to see them once more later in that very same shift, since those that refuse transport will typically take extra opioids to deal with the ache of withdrawal and are more likely to overdose once more. This cycle is exhausting for first responders and lethal for folks in energetic opioid use.
Nonetheless, we’ve bought a robust new software that may assist break this cycle. Buprenorphine, a medicine for opioid use dysfunction, gives an answer to right away deal with the signs of opioid withdrawal and assist sufferers deal with their habit and work towards restoration.
Drugs like buprenorphine — which is often known as Suboxone — are protected, evidence-based therapies confirmed to assist individuals who wish to cut back or cease opioid use. Buprenorphine reduces cravings, treats withdrawal signs and will increase the probabilities of somebody staying in restoration. It could actually additionally prevent overdose death by 50%.
In 2023, authorized restrictions have been loosened to prescribe and administer drugs for opioid use dysfunction throughout the U.S., and we’ve seen them slowly change into extra accessible in our state. In 2024, the Division of Well being launched a pilot program that allowed paramedics to manage buprenorphine within the discipline. My company in Snohomish County was a part of the pilot, and it was a vital turning level for sufferers and our staff to assist break the cycle of opioid overdose.
For some sufferers, beginning this remedy will be step one to altering their lives. Final 12 months, my EMS staff in South Snohomish County responded to a typical overdose name. Paramedics, in addition to a neighborhood well being employee skilled in substance use and behavioral well being, arrived on scene. They revived the affected person, and along with his permission, administered buprenorphine.
Inside minutes, the withdrawal signs had eased, and the affected person felt ok to debate his most well-liked course of remedy. He agreed to outpatient remedy, and with follow-up assist from the neighborhood well being employee, turned his life round. He secured housing, employment and reunited along with his daughters in Boise, the place he now lives.
The EMS buprenorphine pilot program was a hit throughout a number of Washington counties, and now medical program administrators throughout the state are working with DOH to undertake paramedic affected person care protocols to manage buprenorphine within the discipline.
Whereas EMS companies are all the time strapped for assets, I see including buprenorphine administration as worthwhile for any county in Washington. The power to deal with sufferers with opioid use dysfunction within the discipline interprets to actual advantages.
Administering remedy within the discipline can imply shorter on-scene instances and fewer repeat overdose calls. EMS groups can return to service extra rapidly and reply to different emergencies extra effectively. The extra time emergency response groups are freed up from repeat calls, the higher outfitted we’re to serve the neighborhood at giant.
Treatment for opioid use dysfunction gained’t instantly clear up the opioid disaster, however it is a crucial a part of the answer. One huge barrier is a scarcity of consolation with these drugs within the medical neighborhood, together with EMS groups. My staff wanted fundamental data and coaching earlier than turning into comfy speaking to sufferers about these drugs.
The well being division and the Well being Care Authority have developed a brand new set of assets and instruments to assist medical suppliers begin the dialog about this remedy. Study extra at: ScalaNW.org/MOUD.
