Substance Use Disorders
This section provides EMS professionals with resources and training focused on identifying, managing and responding to patients with substance use disorders (SUDs). Articles cover recognition of drug and alcohol use in the field, treatment best practices, harm reduction strategies, and the evolving role of EMS in the opioid crisis. Learn how to address provider safety, compassion fatigue and stigma, while improving patient outcomes through evidence-based care and community partnerships.
Conquer stressful calls, identify treatment challenges and pitfalls, and use technology to its best potential to save lives this summer and beyond
Real-world data of high-dose naloxone administration by law enforcement officers found no added benefit to opioid overdose patients
Old methods have proven vulnerable to diversion, errors and waste
Paramedics Jeremy Pecoraro Pecoraro and Jon Cinelli were placed on leave following an investigation into missing prescription narcotics
Across the U.S., the pharmaceutical industry still faces more than 2,600 other lawsuits over the deadly disaster
State, local and tribal governments plus hospitals and others have filed a total of more than 2,600 lawsuits against drugmakers, distributors and pharmacies
Thomas Wright broke free from the gurney restraint, bit the EMT and knocked him to the ground, then began stomping on his head
The compassionate treatment opioid users receive from first responders can lead to education and healing
Two nurses, a paramedic and a pharmacist were charged with receipt of controlled substance medications by deceit, fraud and misrepresentation
Prosecutors said the medical professionals helped fuel the state’s opioid epidemic
The falsehood of naloxone-induced aggression and assault
Norman Devasure, 65, told officers he had consumed two large drinks of whiskey before an NFL game
Colerain Township Department of Fire and Emergency Medical Services created an all-hands-on-deck approach to help people with substance use disorders
The Dover Doorway program is not working as designed, and the number of individuals seeking help from each area is severely disproportionate
The Agency for Substance Abuse Prevention received a $40,306 block grant from the Alabama Department of Mental Health to expand its services
A student allegedly brought marshmallow marijuana edibles to school and distributed them to fellow students
The Greater New Bedford TRAIN is seeking to reach more than 7,000 people through education and assistance for opioids treatment and recovery
By leveraging naloxone and buprenorphine, along with behavioral therapies, medication-assisted treatment attacks opioid addiction from all sides
Paramedic-EMT Michael Shane Hambrick stole the morphine, replaced it with liquid and reattached the tube using superglue
Purdue officials say this is the first step in a plan to provide up to $12 billion to help reimburse governments and clean up the damage done by opioids
Attorneys representing eight drug companies say he’s shown clear bias in his efforts to obtain a multi-billion dollar global settlement
Using ODMAP, law enforcement and public health can input, monitor and track overdose data using times, dates and locations
Sackler family members urged governments to sign on to the settlement terms, saying it will fund solutions to the crisis rather than continue “endless litigation”
The state will use the funding to provide families with treatment and prevention resources, while also funding data collection efforts
The county will use one of two grants to allow for a team of four peer recovery specialists to ride with EMS personnel during drug overdose calls
The order functions as statewide prescription enabling all Washington residents and organizations to go to any pharmacy to get naloxone
Firefighters will be carrying two doses of naloxone after the department administered the drug on 223 calls in one year
BFD responded to an average 154,800 EMS calls compared to 34,900 fire calls over the last three years, prompting changes to the how the FD responds to calls
The initiative launches at the end of the month and will provide 24-hour assistance for those seeking to be connected with treatment and recovery options
Heather Locklear faced five counts of battery on an officer, one count of battery on emergency personnel and two counts of resisting, obstructing or delaying an officer
The money will be used to establish a Rural Center of Excellence on Substance Use Disorder to oversee and provide treatment in 47 rural counties across the state
Eric Stanke, 34, was arraigned for charges that include possession of a controlled substance and two counts of obtaining a controlled substance by fraud
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