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 can be a major player in clinical medicine, operational delivery and healthcare changes, decreasing morbidity and mortality
EMS sleep practices, the opioid epidemic, community paramedicine and patient transport mark some of the biggest issues to watch in 2018
Community paramedicine, patient transport, EMS safety, the opioid epidemic and professionalism shape the last year in EMS
Busiest night of the year for London Ambulance Service medics, booze buses, and alcohol treatment centers
After midnight on New Year’s Eve, medics expect an emergency call every 20 seconds
The app offers a searchable database of more than 90 common emergency medications and is designed for paramedic students in Australia and New Zealand
21-year-old unresponsive in vehicle at toll plaza; paramedics treat man for possible drug overdose
A very small dose can be lethal, and the agency is building a legal case against those who are marketing it in bulk
The US DEA served Lynchburg General Hospital pharmacy with a warrant related to hundreds of thousands of dollars in possible thefts from ambulance drug boxes
Despite their own injuries, they extricated themselves from their rolled ambulance and aided two other people hurt in a collision
2 medics aided other crash victims despite their own serious injuries
Three dead, 13 injured in crash that happened as Christmas service ended; police suspect driver was under the influence
Medics respond to two or three heroin overdose calls a day, and two police cruisers are now dispatched to accompany and protect EMS
Md. officials announce cellphone app that helps users estimate blood alcohol content, check recall and reaction time, and can call a cab or designated driver
Stamford firefighters respond to every serious medical call in city; expected to complete narcotics overdose training by end of January
Five of the seven have been off the street since July while two others have resigned from the department
140 pharmacies in 22 counties have agreed to stock the overdose antidote
Heroin is being investigated as a possible cause of the deaths after the two were found by their 8-and-10-year-old children
First use of narcotics overdose antidote since program began for firefighters that respond to all medical calls
The bride was treated for alcohol poisoning and the groom and best man were charged with disorderly conduct
We were all kids once, and most of us did some crazy things; sometimes the life we envisioned is snuffed out by reckless abandon
First of its kind program caters to the unique stresses and needs of emergency responders
The county purchased 900 doses to be distributed among 400 patrol cars from the 42 police agencies
A fire department in Ohio saw an increase of 55 percent in the past three weeks, from about $27 a dose to $42 a dose
Paramedic of 20 years is facing felony charges alleging he took painkillers intended for patients
He was suspected after his partner thought he might be drunk, then found two morphine vials that appeared to be tampered with
By next month, all 39 of the department’s sergeants will have been trained in how to administer the drug
EMS has seen a spike in K2 overdoes since Monday
On one occasion, he attempted to pass a fraudulent prescription while in uniform and operating a fire truck
She called 911 for medical assistance and says officers forcefully arrested her; both she and police say they have video to prove what happened
EMS providers are vulnerable to addiction by the nature of their jobs, and an unfortunate story highlights the need to plan ahead for this situation
A man in N.J. was surprised to receive charges for a $700 bill after a former friend who possibly overdosed gave paramedics his name and address
The ambulance company said they spotted the irregularity soon and terminated the paramedic, who now faces criminal charges
