Between May 2019 and April 2022, MedStar crews have treated 1,587 patients the crew believed were suffering from an overdose. The number of overdose patients treated each month has been increasing at a concerning rate. Last month, MedStar crews treated 66 overdose patients, an average of 2 patients per day.
To try and help reduce the incidence of repeat overdoses in the community, MedStar and the Recovery Resource Council have partnered on a special program designed to provide additional resources to patients who suffer an overdose.
A MedStar Community Paramedic and a substance abuse counselor from the Recovery Resource Council follow up on overdose patients that MedStar crews treat in the field. During the follow up visit, patients are offered substance abuse counseling and referrals to community resources.
Families of the overdose victims are provided with Narcan, a drug that can reverse an opioid overdose, as well as CPR training.
Since the program started in January 2022:
- 99 people have received at least one program service
- 82 have been connected to a peer support specialist
- 81 family members have received hands only CPR training
- 80 people have received a health and wellness screening and were referred to other community resources
- 227 Narcan kits have been provided to 70 families
Click here to view a FOX 4 news report on the partnership.
This initiative is funded though the University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio.
