In an innovative move to tackle the opioid crisis, Portland Fire & Rescue is set to launch a pilot program aimed at providing immediate aid to individuals suffering from opioid overdoses. Announced following a Portland City Council vote, the initiative, dubbed Mobile Medication for Opioid Use Disorder (MOUD), will begin on Feb. 5, as reported by KPTV. The MOUD program will be one of the first in the United States to administer medications to not only counteract overdoses but also to mitigate severe withdrawal symptoms.
Under the new program, when the Portland's Community Health Assess and Treat (CHAT) team responds to a 9-1-1 call, patients will be given the choice to enroll for immediate access to opioid use disorder medication. This approach is expected to save lives by reducing overdose fatalities and helping patients engage in substance use disorder treatment. "Providing opioid use disorder medication at the time of a 9-1-1 response to an overdose is an emergency best practice with proven results to reduce overdose fatalities, connect community members to desired services and keep patients engaged in substance use disorder treatment," Portland Fire & Rescue elaborated in a release obtained by KPTV.
As per details shared by AOL News, the MOUD pilot is a collaboration with several entities including the Multnomah County Health Department's Emergency Medical Services division, Oregon Poison Center, and CareOregon. Funding for the program comes from CareOregon, contributing $389,577 to the city to support the program's operations.
The CHAT team also plans to connect patients directly to treatment centers offering comprehensive services for substance use disorder. "We know that when people are connected with supports to get on the path to recovery, they are more likely to stay engaged in services," Stacie Andoniadis, CareOregon's substance use disorder program manager, told the official site of Portland Fire & Rescue. The success of the MOUD program will be gauged by several metrics, such as the number of times medication is administered, unique patients served, and the retention of patients in treatment for sustained periods.
Commissioner Rene Gonzalez underscored the need for this pilot by recalling the urgent necessity for alternate solutions after visiting all 31 Portland fire stations in 2023. "The Mobile Medication for Opioid Use Disorder Pilot, led by PF&R’s CHAT nurses, will focus on reviving victims with naloxone (Narcan) and administering buprenorphine, a medication that demonstrates a nearly 600% increase in willingness to participate in substance use disorder treatment," Gonzalez explained, as cited by Portland Fire & Rescue. The program's introduction is a critical step in handling the overdose calls that have overwhelmed both first responders and Portland's unsheltered residents.
