The City of Seattle isn’t alone. First responders in Madison, Wisconsin just started carrying buprenorphine, too (Image: City of Madison)

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.

CHS reported here last year on the rollout of the overdose response team as part of a $27 million investment in treatment and diversion as the city ramped up its crackdown on public drug use. Under the plan brought forward by Harrell, the city said it would put more than $27 million toward enhanced treatment facilities, new addiction services, and improved overdose response for first responders including $7 million in capital investments in facilities to provide services such as post-overdose care, opioid medication delivery, health hub services, long-term care management, and drop-in support.

The city says new efforts like those around buprenorphine must be paired with increased services and facilities. CHS reported here on King County’s plan to open new treatment facilities, and relaunch the Seattle sobering center to take on the soaring fentanyl crisis.

The city says the Seattle Fire Department and Health 99 respond to more than 100 patients each week experiencing an overdose. In 2023, officials say 735 people died of drug overdoses in Seattle. Fentanyl related overdoses are a core driver of the increase. In 2022, CHS reported on growing but challenged efforts to make fentanyl test strips more widely available.

Buprenorphine use is hoped to be expanded by the city’s pilot. Regular use of buprenorphine has been shown to cut mortality from opioid addiction in half, the Seattle Fire Department says. “This medication helps patients recover from the withdrawal effects after an overdose is reversed with naloxone,” SFD’s announcement reads. “A single dose of buprenorphine provides 24 to 48 hours of protection from opioid overdose. Relief of withdrawal symptoms provides an opportunity for engaging patients in conversation about treatment, recovery, and social service connections.”

“Seattle firefighter/EMTs and paramedics are on the frontlines of the fentanyl and synthetic opioid epidemic and respond on a daily basis to patients who have overdosed,” Fire Chief Harold Scoggins said. “Equipping our paramedics with the ability to administer buprenorphine further opens the door for conversations with patients around treatment options.”

Paying for the expanded use of drugs like naloxone and buprenorphine will require increase federal and state funding. The city included increased overdose response funding in its latest priorities for state lawmakers.

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