The Role of Emergency Medical Services in the Opioid Epidemic

Prehosp Emerg Care. 2021 Jul-Aug;25(4):462-464. doi: 10.1080/10903127.2020.1810372. Epub 2020 Sep 4.

Abstract

The opioid crisis is an ongoing public health concern and EMS agencies are in a critical position to reach at-risk populations. The traditional role of EMS in treating acute opioid overdoses has expanded to include preventative strategies as well as long-term treatment and recovery options. EMS agencies are uniquely positioned to partner with local community resources and hospitals to combine efforts in implementing harm-reduction strategies.

Keywords: EMS; epidemic; naloxone; opioids.

MeSH terms

  • Analgesics, Opioid / adverse effects
  • Drug Overdose* / drug therapy
  • Drug Overdose* / epidemiology
  • Emergency Medical Services*
  • Humans
  • Naloxone / therapeutic use
  • Narcotic Antagonists / therapeutic use
  • Opioid Epidemic
  • Opioid-Related Disorders* / drug therapy
  • Opioid-Related Disorders* / epidemiology

Substances

  • Analgesics, Opioid
  • Narcotic Antagonists
  • Naloxone