The city’s first responders are testing what could be a powerful tool in keeping more people from dying of drug overdoses in Seattle. City officials say Seattle’s Health 99 overdose response team formed last year is now carrying buprenorphine, a powerful opioid that research shows can help stabilize drug users and provide short-term relief from withdrawal symptoms.
“This new pilot program will allow our Seattle Fire Department paramedics to administer this highly effective and evidence-backed medication that quickly stabilizes people suffering from opioid use disorder, creating a window where services are more likely to be accepted and reducing the strain on our city’s emergency rooms,” Mayor Bruce Harrell said in a statement.
When paired with Narcan’s overdose reversal properties or when administered alone, the addition of buprenorphine to Health 99’s arsenal could be an important step in addressing addiction beyond the team’s life-saving responses. The drug allows the first responders “to better engage in conversations around treatment, recovery, and social services,” the city says. Continue reading