Commentary on Gjersing & Bretteville-Jensen (2015): EMS-treated opioid overdose--an important opportunity for saving lives

Addiction. 2015 Nov;110(11):1775-6. doi: 10.1111/add.13093.

Abstract

Overdose reversal must be seen as an opportunity for intervention because of the elevated risk of death following the event. While emergency medical cardiac arrest care is a poor parallel for opioid overdose, the need for rigorous review and fiscally prudent solutions is similar. Efforts must be made to look for solutions to prevent and treat future overdose specifically in the population that has had an overdose event.

Keywords: Ambulance; CPR; EMS; naloxone; opioid overdose; prevention.

Publication types

  • Comment

MeSH terms

  • Analgesics, Opioid / therapeutic use
  • Drug Overdose / epidemiology
  • Emergency Medical Services
  • Humans
  • Naloxone / therapeutic use*
  • Narcotic Antagonists / therapeutic use*

Substances

  • Analgesics, Opioid
  • Narcotic Antagonists
  • Naloxone