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.
EMS systems may experience and respond to behavioral health, substance abuse and domestic violence situations as social isolation impacts public health
Training, mental health resources are essential to support first responders facing both the opioid crisis and COVID-19 outbreak
A typical shift during the pandemic highlights the uncertainty faced by first responders
Authorities said the doctor wrote unnecessary prescriptions that contributed to the overdose deaths of at least seven people
The legislation will help officials target physicians who might be illicitly prescribing powerful prescription medications
Jeanette Trella said symptoms exhibited by the four responders weren’t the sort typically seen in an opioid exposure
Assistant State Attorney Alan Johnson “suggested that they have a cut off” for patients who overdose multiple times
“It is the youngest suspected OD we’ve had in the city ever,” Christopher Hickey of Manchester Fire Department said
James Whitham said he was being treated for gastrointestinal pain, but was given a form of fentanyl only approved for cancer patients
“If you keep dealing heroin in Elkhart County, you should expect that you are going to get caught,” prosecutor Vicki Becker said
Jeremy English said he was driving when he saw a car pulled over with four overdose victims inside
Crews were responding to a cardiac arrest call when the incident occurred
“Cities like ours are now frantically searching for answers for our own population” Mayor Cary Glickstein said
EMS1 looked at Google Trends data to discover which opioids are most often researched.
The case has underscored how frighteningly prevalent fentanyl has become and how potent it is
Christina Talamante told police she initially was prescribed pain medication in 2006 following a car crash
Preliminary toxicology tests show Alton Banks had fentanyl in his system when he collapsed and died at his home
In Portland, Maine, officials have collected more than 700 needles so far this year, putting them on track to handily exceed the nearly 900 gathered in all of 2016
Noah Daughhetee, of IndivisibleOH8, said his group believes that “using Narcan on someone who overdosed is the humane thing to do”
Prescriptions are no longer needed for the medicine, which can be found at local pharmacies
Public health officials say America is living through the worst drug crisis in its history — and children across the country suffer the repercussions
Zachary Ross, 21, was charged in September with drug delivery resulting in death and several other offenses
Multiple people called 911 to report the fleeing Dodge Durango as it smoked, sparked and swerved all over the roadway
Fire Chief Kevin Gallagher and Dr. Matthew Bivens are working to close off one avenue that can lead to opioid addiction
It’s possible to stem the crisis without denying opioids to patients whose doctors prescribe them responsibly
“It seems like every week we are having the same conversation about kids who have symptoms of opiate exposure,”pediatrician Kelly Liker said
Clarion University officials said the program was designed to assist responders and other professionals who deal with the epidemic
Eighty percent of heroin addicts start with abuse of prescription drugs, and most get them from friends, relatives or a medicine cabinet
Police said tainted heroin may be responsible for at least eight overdoses over the weekend
The Akron Board of Education passed the motion as a proactive step toward preventing death by opioids
Sen. Tammy Duckworth said there needs to be more effort in making sure addicts have access to treatment
Students will graduate qualified for the required federal “waiver” to prescribe medications to treat opioid-use disorders
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