WASHINGTON — Opioid overdoses have replaced motor vehicle accidents as the number one killer of Americans. In some areas of the United States, opioid addiction and deaths are at epidemic levels.
In response to the unparalleled growth of opioid use in the United States, EMS.Gov has announced two webinars about what is being done to turn the tide.
The first webinar starts 2 p.m. EDT, Friday, Aug. 5. The featured guest will be the Director of National Drug Control Policy, Michael Botticelli, and he will speak about the federal government’s response to the opioid crisis based on available data.
Botticelli will also discuss various approaches to addressing overdoses, such as peer engagement and the use of buprenorphine treatments. You can register to view the webinar here.
The second webinar, How EMS Can Reduce Opioid Overdoses, will start on 1 p.m. EDT, Thursday, Aug. 25. The Office of EMS will share what states and local agencies are doing to combat the opioid overdose epidemic.
The panel will discuss how EMS data on opioid overdoses is used at the federal, state and local level, using New Orleans EMS as a case study on how to collaborate with public health departments to address the opioid crisis. The expanding use of Narcan will also be discussed.
You can register to view the second webinar here.