Suboxone by EMS for Opioid Withdrawal- A community harm reduction intervention

Thursday, October 13, 2022

9:15 AM – 10:15 AM EDT

Location: 224EF

Sponsored By

Co-Speaker(s)

David A. Miramontes, MD

EMS Medical Director
UT Health San Antonio/ San Antonio Fire Dept.
San Antonio, Texas
Christopher P. Velasquez, Paramedic Firefighter Engineer

Program Manager - Mobile Integrated Health
San Antonio Fire Department
San Antonio, Texas

Description: WE discuss the pathophysiology of Opioid dependence and withdrawal and introduce the concept of Harm Reduction.
The pharmacology of buprenorphine and methadone will be presented as agents that can be used for medication assisted treatment for opioid addiction. The pharmacology of nasal naloxone (Narcan kits) and it role in community opioid harm reduction will be explored at length. The novel EMS based buprenorphine induction program started in 2018 at San Antonio Fire Department will be discussed with operational details, deployment strategy, and outcomes data.

Learning Objectives:

The pathophysiology of Opiod addiction and withdrawal will be discussed at length
The participant will be familiar with the pharmacology of Methadone, buprenorphine and naloxone especially its actions and potential side effects.
The participant will be exposed to potential community harm reduction strategies for opioid addiction to include nasal naloxone and buprenorphine Medically assisted treatments.
The legal and Operational aspects of opioid harm reduction programs will be discussed