Related Experiment Video
Updated: Sep 16, 2025
06:59
A Novel Approach for the Administration of Medications and Fluids in Emergency Scenarios and Settings
Published on: November 9, 2016
30.6K
Engaging Emergency Medical Services in Naloxone Distribution to Reduce Drug Overdoses.
Bina Ali1, Katharine Atwood1, Ua-Aree Sangpukdee1
1Pacific Institute for Research and Evaluation, Beltsville, MD, USA.
Substance Use & Misuse
|July 11, 2025
Summary
Emergency Medical Services (EMS) providers are crucial for distributing naloxone kits at overdose scenes. Positive attitudes toward harm reduction and being a career EMS provider significantly increase naloxone kit distribution.
Area of Science:
- Public Health
- Emergency Medicine
- Addiction Science
Background:
- Increasing access to naloxone is a key strategy to reduce opioid overdose deaths.
- Baltimore County Department of Health and EMS implemented a naloxone
- leave behind
- program.
Purpose of the Study:
- Investigate the distribution of naloxone kits by EMS providers.
- Identify factors associated with naloxone kit distribution.
Main Methods:
- Cross-sectional study of 127 EMS providers via online survey (August 2023 - January 2024).
- Descriptive and logistic regression analyses were used to explore participant characteristics, distribution rates, reasons for non-distribution, and associated factors.
Main Results:
- 48.8% of EMS providers reported leaving a naloxone kit at the most recent overdose response.
- Key reasons for not distributing kits included lack of time, kit availability, or patient refusal/possession.
- Naloxone distribution was significantly associated with positive harm reduction attitudes and career EMS provider status.
Conclusions:
- EMS providers are vital in harm reduction efforts.
- Enhanced training and support are needed to fully integrate harm reduction into emergency medical services to prevent drug overdoses.
More Related Videos
Related Concept Videos
01:18Drug Delivery: Enteral Route
747
The enteral drug administration involves three primary routes: oral, sublingual, and buccal. Oral ingestion is the most prevalent, safe, economical, and convenient method for drug administration. However, it has certain drawbacks, including limited absorption due to the drug's low water solubility or poor membrane permeability, possible emesis from GI mucosa irritation, destruction of drugs by digestive enzymes or low gastric pH, and irregular absorption along with food or other drugs.
747
01:14Prevention of Further Absorption of Poison
931
In cases of acute poisoning, the primary objective is to prevent further absorption of the toxic substance into the body. Immediate interventions using various decontamination techniques targeting the gastrointestinal (GI) tract can achieve this. Decontamination is crucial to prevent poison from entering the systemic circulation, which involves washing affected areas with water and mild soap and removing contaminated clothing. Once external decontamination is done, attention must be turned to...
931
01:25Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation IV: Pharmacological Management
81
Pharmacologic intervention is crucial in treating cardiac arrest patients during ACLS or Advanced Cardiovascular Life Support. The ACLS algorithms guide the administration of specific drugs based on the patient's cardiac arrest rhythm, which includes pulseless ventricular tachycardia (VT), ventricular fibrillation (VF), asystole, and pulseless electrical activity (PEA).EpinephrineIndication: Epinephrine is the first-line drug for all cardiac arrest rhythms.Mechanism of Action: Epinephrine...
81
01:30Adrenergic Agonists: Therapeutic Uses
984
Adrenergic agonists have diverse therapeutic uses across various medical conditions and emergencies.
Emergency and Intensive Care Unit (ICU) applications: Pressor agents increase blood pressure, heart rate, and contractility in shock and organ failure situations. Dopamine can induce vasodilation and stimulate adrenoceptors. Endogenous catecholamines are effective in treating cardiogenic shock. α2-agonists like clonidine can reverse anesthesia-induced hypertension.
Allergies and...
Emergency and Intensive Care Unit (ICU) applications: Pressor agents increase blood pressure, heart rate, and contractility in shock and organ failure situations. Dopamine can induce vasodilation and stimulate adrenoceptors. Endogenous catecholamines are effective in treating cardiogenic shock. α2-agonists like clonidine can reverse anesthesia-induced hypertension.
Allergies and...
984
01:23Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation III: AED Use
73
Introduction to AEDAn Automated External Defibrillator (AED) is a portable medical device that analyzes the heart's rhythm and, if necessary, delivers an electrical shock to help the heart re-establish an effective rhythm during sudden cardiac arrest (SCA). SCA occurs when the heart suddenly and unexpectedly stops beating, leading to a loss of blood flow to the brain and other vital organs. In such emergencies, time is of the essence, and using an AED, combined with Cardiopulmonary...
73
01:15Opioid Analgesics: Synthetic and Semisynthetic Opioids
438
Synthetic and semisynthetic opioids are pivotal in pain management and tackling opioid addiction. Semisynthetic opioids, including morphinans (morphine derivatives), oxycodone, oxymorphone, hydrocodone, and hydromorphone, have improved pharmacokinetic profiles compared to morphine. Additionally, heroin and 6-MAM (6-Monoacetylmorphine) show better CNS penetration than morphine due to heightened lipid solubility. Hydromorphone, a potent opioid, undergoes hepatic metabolism to form the active...
438