/substance-abuse Substance Abuse en-US Fri, 17 Jan 2025 16:02:00 GMT /legislation-funding/9-questions-for-our-next-president Recruitment, the opioid epidemic, climate change and mental health challenges are just as significant for paramedics now as they were in the heat of the campaign Fri, 17 Jan 2025 16:02:00 GMT /legislation-funding/9-questions-for-our-next-president /research/research-roundup-what-did-we-learn-in-2024 From an airway management wake-up call to the efficacy of naloxone on out-of-hospital cardiac arrests, these studies will be making waves in 2025 Thu, 09 Jan 2025 15:12:25 GMT /research/research-roundup-what-did-we-learn-in-2024 /substance-abuse/support-for-harm-reduction-by-community-ems “As healthcare professionals, it is not the purview of EMS providers to judge our patients. It is our job to care for them” Thu, 02 Jan 2025 19:17:29 GMT /substance-abuse/support-for-harm-reduction-by-community-ems /legislation-funding/9-questions-for-our-next-president Recruitment, the opioid epidemic, climate change and mental health challenges are just as significant for paramedics now as they were in the heat of the campaign Fri, 17 Jan 2025 16:02:00 GMT /legislation-funding/9-questions-for-our-next-president /public-health/mass-public-health-officials-hesitate-to-endorse-nalmefene Medical experts believe nalmefene shouldn’t replace naloxone because of an increased risk for severe withdrawal symptoms associated with it Fri, 17 Jan 2025 14:45:00 GMT /public-health/mass-public-health-officials-hesitate-to-endorse-nalmefene /substance-abuse/wash-emt-has-certification-suspended-after-failing-to-enroll-in-monitoring-program The Adams County EMT had admitted to a substance abuse problem during an investigation into an altercation during a possible overdose call Thu, 16 Jan 2025 16:20:21 GMT /substance-abuse/wash-emt-has-certification-suspended-after-failing-to-enroll-in-monitoring-program /substance-abuse/n-m-sees-a-decrease-in-overdose-deaths-in-2023 Officials attributed the decline to public health interventions, such as the availability and use of naloxone Sat, 11 Jan 2025 16:54:21 GMT /substance-abuse/n-m-sees-a-decrease-in-overdose-deaths-in-2023 /research/research-roundup-what-did-we-learn-in-2024 From an airway management wake-up call to the efficacy of naloxone on out-of-hospital cardiac arrests, these studies will be making waves in 2025 Thu, 09 Jan 2025 15:12:25 GMT /research/research-roundup-what-did-we-learn-in-2024 /substance-abuse/support-for-harm-reduction-by-community-ems “As healthcare professionals, it is not the purview of EMS providers to judge our patients. It is our job to care for them” Thu, 02 Jan 2025 19:17:29 GMT /substance-abuse/support-for-harm-reduction-by-community-ems /ems-grant-center/opioid-settlement-funds-a-critical-resource-for-addressing-the-crisis States are channeling funds into overdose response equipment, drug identification tools and community recovery initiatives Thu, 02 Jan 2025 14:29:40 GMT /ems-grant-center/opioid-settlement-funds-a-critical-resource-for-addressing-the-crisis /substance-abuse/mich-county-sees-decline-in-overdose-deaths Oakland County officials credit the decline to the availability of Narcan training and a public health, sheriff's office partnership Wed, 01 Jan 2025 13:00:00 GMT /substance-abuse/mich-county-sees-decline-in-overdose-deaths /opioids/articles/mitigating-the-risks-of-the-opioid-epidemic-with-harm-reduction-strategies-X28hGm5jRDoj1dOq/ Educating patients at the highest risk for suffering a fatal overdose Fri, 27 Dec 2024 19:33:13 GMT /opioids/articles/mitigating-the-risks-of-the-opioid-epidemic-with-harm-reduction-strategies-X28hGm5jRDoj1dOq/ /substance-abuse/pa-sees-lowest-decline-in-overdose-deaths-since-2016 The year-over-year decrease in fatal drug overdoses was 24% as of July Mon, 16 Dec 2024 13:20:56 GMT /substance-abuse/pa-sees-lowest-decline-in-overdose-deaths-since-2016 /ambulances-and-emergency-vehicles/colo-fire-engine-graphics-call-attention-to-fentanyl-deaths Adams County Fire Rescue's fire engine wrap will promote fentanyl awareness and education over six months Sun, 15 Dec 2024 17:00:00 GMT /ambulances-and-emergency-vehicles/colo-fire-engine-graphics-call-attention-to-fentanyl-deaths /year-in-review/the-podcasts-that-kept-ems-talking-ems1s-most-listened-to-episodes-of-2024 Insights, challenges and future directions: Highlighting the most compelling discussions that shaped EMS this year Tue, 10 Dec 2024 16:36:31 GMT /year-in-review/the-podcasts-that-kept-ems-talking-ems1s-most-listened-to-episodes-of-2024 /ems-advocacy/articles/3-paramedic-habits-i-cant-shake-3DR6ms6vVsgQ8SzQ/ The habits we learn to care for ourselves and others go with us off-duty into our personal lives Tue, 10 Dec 2024 16:04:37 GMT /ems-advocacy/articles/3-paramedic-habits-i-cant-shake-3DR6ms6vVsgQ8SzQ/ /substance-abuse/calif-county-sees-sharp-decline-in-fentanyl-deaths Sacramento County officials reported 186 deaths due to fentanyl this year compared to 404 in all of 2023 Wed, 04 Dec 2024 11:00:53 GMT /substance-abuse/calif-county-sees-sharp-decline-in-fentanyl-deaths /safety/a-fentanyl-vaccine-for-first-responders-no-thanks A proposed fentanyl vaccine might be a useful addition in the fight against opioids, but it isn’t necessary to protect first responders from occupational exposure to the drug Mon, 02 Dec 2024 16:29:36 GMT /safety/a-fentanyl-vaccine-for-first-responders-no-thanks /substance-abuse/cdc-reports-overdose-deaths-on-the-decline Data shows that overdose deaths are down 14% in a 12-month period compared to the last period Sun, 17 Nov 2024 13:00:00 GMT /substance-abuse/cdc-reports-overdose-deaths-on-the-decline /ems-products/off-duty/medication-management-made-easy-tools-for-safe-dosing Pill organizers and dispensers that help prevent missed doses, overdoses and interactions Mon, 11 Nov 2024 19:56:13 GMT /ems-products/off-duty/medication-management-made-easy-tools-for-safe-dosing /legislation-funding/insider-analysis-funding-crisis-threatens-colorados-naloxone-program Colorado’s community naloxone distribution program faces a financial shortfall as state funding dwindles, raising concerns for overdose prevention efforts Mon, 11 Nov 2024 16:21:54 GMT /legislation-funding/insider-analysis-funding-crisis-threatens-colorados-naloxone-program /legislation-funding/what-a-second-trump-presidency-means-for-ems How will Trump’s campaign promises impact EMS funding, call volume and service quality? Wed, 06 Nov 2024 15:01:31 GMT /legislation-funding/what-a-second-trump-presidency-means-for-ems /body-cam/video-shown-during-deadly-subway-chokehold-trial-shows-nypd-cops-perform-cpr-on-jordan-neely The video was shown in court during the trial of Daniel Penny, who placed Jordan Neely in a chokehold after he allegedly threatened to kill other subway train passengers Mon, 04 Nov 2024 20:34:17 GMT /body-cam/video-shown-during-deadly-subway-chokehold-trial-shows-nypd-cops-perform-cpr-on-jordan-neely /pharmacology/seattle-expands-administration-of-buprenorphine-to-emts The Seattle Fire Department's buprenorphine pilot program will now allow firefighter/EMTs to use the drug with patients experiencing severe opioid withdrawal Tue, 29 Oct 2024 13:23:35 GMT /pharmacology/seattle-expands-administration-of-buprenorphine-to-emts /substance-abuse/colo-naloxone-fund-in-jeopardy-despite-opioid-settlement-income Officials worry about the future of the Naloxone Bulk Purchase Fund Sat, 26 Oct 2024 16:00:00 GMT /substance-abuse/colo-naloxone-fund-in-jeopardy-despite-opioid-settlement-income /substance-abuse/overdose-deaths-rise-in-western-states-as-focus-shifts-to-pacific-coast Fentanyl and meth fuel rising deaths in Alaska, Nevada, Washington and Oregon, prompting harm reduction efforts and tougher prosecutions Thu, 24 Oct 2024 14:26:58 GMT /substance-abuse/overdose-deaths-rise-in-western-states-as-focus-shifts-to-pacific-coast /substance-abuse/wash-county-first-responders-to-use-buprenorphine-in-fight-against-overdoses Clark-Cowlitz Fire Rescue utilizes a two-person Cares Team to provide buprenorphine during overdose calls Tue, 22 Oct 2024 10:00:50 GMT /substance-abuse/wash-county-first-responders-to-use-buprenorphine-in-fight-against-overdoses /substance-abuse/philadelphia-hospitals-test-new-strategy-for-tranq-dope-withdrawal Withdrawal symptoms tended to be far worse than those experienced by even the most severe heroin users of the past Sun, 20 Oct 2024 12:00:00 GMT /substance-abuse/philadelphia-hospitals-test-new-strategy-for-tranq-dope-withdrawal /patient-assessment/17-students-assessed-for-possible-overdoses-at-los-angeles-school The Los Angeles Unified School District released a statement saying "a group of students may have consumed a banned substance" Fri, 18 Oct 2024 14:03:13 GMT /patient-assessment/17-students-assessed-for-possible-overdoses-at-los-angeles-school /dispatchers/calif-dispatcher-dies-in-crash-with-suspected-dui-driver-on-the-way-to-work Antoinette Finau served as an emergency services dispatcher with the Alameda County Sheriff’s Office for nearly 3 years Tue, 07 May 2024 14:14:47 GMT /dispatchers/calif-dispatcher-dies-in-crash-with-suspected-dui-driver-on-the-way-to-work /public-health/mass-public-health-officials-hesitate-to-endorse-nalmefene Medical experts believe nalmefene shouldn’t replace naloxone because of an increased risk for severe withdrawal symptoms associated with it Fri, 17 Jan 2025 14:45:00 GMT /public-health/mass-public-health-officials-hesitate-to-endorse-nalmefene /naloxone/research-naloxone-use-by-good-samaritans-on-the-rise A study by Ohio State University and the National Registry of EMTs highlights the importance of the public’s help and calls for more awareness Mon, 14 Oct 2024 16:02:56 GMT /naloxone/research-naloxone-use-by-good-samaritans-on-the-rise /legislation-funding/colo-looks-at-how-to-spend-nearly-800m-in-national-opioid-settlement-funds Legislators look at the limited ways opioid settlement funds can be spent across the state Wed, 17 Jul 2024 13:14:37 GMT /legislation-funding/colo-looks-at-how-to-spend-nearly-800m-in-national-opioid-settlement-funds /legislation-funding/insider-analysis-funding-crisis-threatens-colorados-naloxone-program Colorado’s community naloxone distribution program faces a financial shortfall as state funding dwindles, raising concerns for overdose prevention efforts Mon, 11 Nov 2024 16:21:54 GMT /legislation-funding/insider-analysis-funding-crisis-threatens-colorados-naloxone-program