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.
Warriors heart finds alcohol abuse is the most common addiction in veterans and first responders
Our co-hosts discuss hot topics related to EMS personnel, from cardiac arrest survival to a DOJ video regarding opioid exposure while on the job
Sara Wainwright lauds ROSC progress, laments opioid epidemic
More than 15,000 doses of naloxone were given by EMS providers statewide in 2014
The toddlers were found breathing abnormally and were believed to have ingested opiates
Firefighters, EMTs and paramedics have an obligation to respond regardless of their opinions about addiction and Narcan
The funding would fight the deadly heroin and prescription narcotic epidemic by focusing on treatment and prevention
Kaitlyn Carlson, 22, had a blood-alcohol level of 0.247, which is more than three times the legal threshold
He will be suspended for 90 days without pay after suggesting overdose victims die and calling Narcan the worst drug ever created
The firefighter called Narcan the worst drug ever created and suggested letting overdose victims die
Potential GOP changes include provisions tightening border controls and cracking down on excessive prescribing of painkillers
The grant will help pay for a project to link people who struggle with addiction to addiction treatment services
The bill would hold drivers convicted of driving under the influence responsible for paying up to $5,000 in emergency response costs
The teens evidently thought they could drink methanol, which is extremely toxic, as a substitute for ethanol
The presidential candidate said building a wall on the U.S. border with Mexico and a ‘just say no’ approach will help solve the opioid overdose epidemic
Adapt Pharma partners with foundation, education departments, and school nurses to offer a carton of FDA-approved naloxone nasal spray to every high school
Recently introduced legislation will improve the rapid administration of controlled substances to patients in need of emergency treatment
The Pediatric Easy Dosing System aims to eliminate medication administration errors in pediatric care
The medics were wearing seatbelts; no one was seriously injured
The 10-year paramedic told police he stole two vials of Dilaudid with the intention of killing himself
Sen. Claire McCaskill said Missouri needs more tools to fight opiate abuse, including a prescription drug monitoring program and better research about average drug use
The $3.7 million package includes funding for 10 additional agents for the Maine Drug Enforcement Agency
The woman died in her home hours after returning from the ER with a prescription for opioid painkillers
The bill would limit initial opiate painkiller prescriptions to a seven-day supply and set an evaluation requirement for overdose victims seeking help at hospital ERs
If the act is not passed, EMS providers could be prevented from accessing controlled substances to treat pain and seizures
Fire and police departments from forty communities will share $700,000 in grants to purchase, carry and administer naloxone
Indiana Sen. Jim Merritt says the number of lives saved by Indianapolis EMS with Narcan has risen from 629 in 2013 to more than 1,150 last year
EMS providers need to understand the importance of airway management and monitoring for respiratory compromise along with naloxone administration for opioid overdoses
The nonprofit organizations receiving $127,000 in grants will work with police, fire and EMS to provide resources and training
There were 61 flakka-related deaths in Broward County from September 2014 to mid-December 2015
Republican presidential hopefuls said substance abuse is a curable disease, not a moral failing
The young men from Illinois had been drinking at a lake house in Wisconsin and were last seen around 2:30 a.m. Sunday
