News New program to allow EMS clinicians to start suboxone treatment

[deficiT]

New program to allow EMS clinicians to start suboxone treatment​

Terry Stackhouse
WMTW ABC
26 Sep 2022

Excerpt:

WESTBROOK, Maine — For people struggling with addiction in Maine, the risk of a deadly overdose has never been higher.

Data from Maine EMS shows overdose calls for all substances increased 28% from 2020 to 2021 and 62% from 2010 to 2021.

According to the agency, the number of opioid overdoses also increased dramatically, rising 38% from 2020 to 2021.

A new strategy would allow EMS clinicians to initiate Suboxone treatment for patients after experiencing an overdose.

The medication treats withdrawal symptoms and can help people living with opioid addiction enter into recovery.

If the rollout meets expectations, Maine would be the first state in the nation to allow emergency responders to initiate recovery care using the medication.

 

[Jabberwocky]

Excellent idea.

 

[neversickanymore]

interesting keep an eye on how this one goes

 

[neversickanymore]

Are they informing them on the correct way to begin the medication I wonder? What happens when you go from a fent overdose to a narcan revival to a Suboxone in an hour or so? Has somebody here has done it, what was the experience like?

 

[G_Chem]

Are they informing them on the correct way to begin the medication I wonder? What happens when you go from a fent overdose to a narcan revival to a Suboxone in an hour or so? Has somebody here has done it, what was the experience like?

Good questions, you’d hope they would research a good protocol for this. In theory though the narcan should displace the fentanyl, meaning the receptors are clear and no risk of PWD (cuz it just happened..)

I think this is a great idea, MUCH less likely for users to go seek out more after the event.

-GC

 

[thegreenhand]

pretty cool idea from maine.

unfortunately the article link says "Sorry, this content is not available in your region." lol