Vermont Public reports that the state鈥檚 largest city has launched a new initiative that allows first responders to administer opioid addiction treatment medication at the scene of overdoses.
It鈥檚 an approach that some states have tried in recent years. And research indicates it鈥檚 an effective way to get more people who struggle with opioid misuse into treatment.
Overdoses have skyrocketed in Burlington in recent years: As of mid-November, the city鈥檚 fire department had already responded to 555 overdoses in 2024鈥攖hat鈥檚 three and a half times as many as five years ago.
At the same time, more people are refusing to be transported by EMTs to the hospital after they鈥檝e been revived from the overdose, which means they鈥檙e not getting follow-up care, or a chance to get funneled into addiction treatment.
鈥淚t鈥檚 a missed opportunity,鈥 said Daniel Wolfson, M.D., M.S., associate professor of emergency medicine at 日韩无码 and the state鈥檚 EMS medical director. 鈥淚n the emergency department, we will connect them with opportunities for ongoing treatments and care, like starting them on buprenorphine or methadone, but if they don鈥檛 come into the ED, they鈥檙e not getting that.鈥
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