title: Naloxone administration for suspected opioid overdose: An expanded scope of practice by a basic life support collegiate-based emergency medical services agency.
abstract: Opioid abuse is a growing and significant public health concern in the United States. Naloxone is an opioid antagonist that can rapidly reverse the respiratory depression associated with opioid toxicity. Georgetown University's collegiate-based emergency medical services (EMS) agency recently adopted a protocol, allowing providers to administer intranasal naloxone for patients with suspected opioid overdose. While normally not within the scope of practice of basic life support prehospital agencies, the recognition of an increasing epidemic of opioid abuse has led many states, including the District of Columbia, to expand access to naloxone for prehospital providers of all levels of training. In particular, intranasal naloxone is a method of administering this medication that potentially avoids needlestick injuries among EMS providers. Universities with collegiate-based EMS agencies are well positioned to provide life-saving treatments for patients acutely ill from opioid overdose.
authors.affiliation: a Georgetown Emergency Response Medical Service , Georgetown University , Washington , District of Columbia , USA.
authors.forename: Ryan M
authors.initials: RM
authors.lastname: Jeffery
authors.affiliation: a Georgetown Emergency Response Medical Service , Georgetown University , Washington , District of Columbia , USA.
authors.forename: Laura
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Dickinson
authors.affiliation: a Georgetown Emergency Response Medical Service , Georgetown University , Washington , District of Columbia , USA.
authors.forename: Nicholas D
authors.initials: ND
authors.lastname: Ng
authors.affiliation: b MedStar Washington Hospital Center/Georgetown University Hospital , Washington , District of Columbia , USA.
authors.forename: Lindsey M
authors.initials: LM
authors.lastname: DeGeorge
authors.affiliation: a Georgetown Emergency Response Medical Service , Georgetown University , Washington , District of Columbia , USA.|c Department of Emergency Medicine , MedStar Georgetown University Hospital, Georgetown University School of Medicine , Washington , District of Columbia , USA.
authors.forename: Jose V
authors.initials: JV
authors.lastname: Nable
mesh_terms: D000281:Administration, Intranasal / Q000379:methods; D000701:Analgesics, Opioid / Q000009:adverse effects*; D062787:Drug Overdose / Q000188:drug therapy*; D004632:Emergency Medical Services / Q000379:methods*; D006801:Humans; D009270:Naloxone / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D009292:Narcotic Antagonists / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use; D013334:Students / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D014495:Universities / Q000458:organization & administration / Q000639:trends
chemical_list: D000701:Analgesics, Opioid; D009292:Narcotic Antagonists; D009270:Naloxone
keywords: Collegiate-based emergency medical services; intranasal; naloxone; opioid overdose