New Jersey ’s EMS Response to the Opioid Epidemic

Similar to many states around the country, New Jersey continues to experience a growing opioid epidemic.Among many professionals battling this epidemic on the frontline are New Jersey’s 32,000 EMS providers. Compounding the problem with illicit opioid use is the high incidence of fentanyl-related overdoses within the state. The opioid epidemic is so severe that, according to New Jersey's real-time dashboard of opioid-related data, it has already claimed 1,562 lives in the state from January 1 through July 7, placing us on track to exceed previous annual state opioid overdose death statistics. New Jersey’s EMS Background New Jersey utilizes a tiered system of response. Emergency calls are screened by the local dispatch center and resources are assigned based on priority. Calls that are deemed non-life threatening are assigned a local basic life support unit (BLS); life threatening calls receive the addition of a regionally based advanced life support Mobile Intensive Care Units (MICU). New Jersey’s EMS force consists of more than 500 BLS agencies and 21 MICU agencies providing 100 regionally based units. The Problem With the number of suspected opioid overdoses skyrocketing, State officials recognized the need for some significant changes. Prior to 2014, the use of naloxone for the reversal of suspected opioid overdoses was restricted to MICU Paramedics. With the 2013 signing of the Opioid Overdose Prevention Act, use of naloxone was expanded to both BLS Emergency Medica...
Source: JEMS Administration and Leadership - Category: Emergency Medicine Authors: Tags: Administration and Leadership Source Type: news