A Case Report of a Novel Harm Reduction Intervention Used to Detect Opioid Overdose in the Emergency Department

As over 130 people die daily from opioid overdose in the United States, harm reduction strategies have become increasingly important. Because public restrooms are a common site for opioid overdose, emergency department waiting room restrooms (EDWRR) should be considered especially high-risk areas.

We present the case of a patient found after a presumed opioid overdose in our EDWRR. Staff were alerted to his condition by a reverse motion detector (RMD), and rapidly treated him with naloxone.

The RMD is a novel intervention that can save lives and should be considered in EDs with a high incidence of opioid overdose.