Evidence map›Paper›PMID 39417009›Full record

ArticleJournal of the American College of Emergency Physicians open2024

Implementation of an EMS-based naloxone distribution program: A qualitative evaluation.

Emily E Ager, Ella K Purington, Megan H Purdy, Brian Benenati, Jessica E Baker, Christine Jane Schellack, Graham C Smith, Nathaniel R Hunt, Eve D Losman

Abstract read
In one paragraph

Article in Journal of the American College of Emergency Physicians open, 2024. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 4 papers.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
4citing papers in PubMed
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

4 citing papers in PubMed.

  1. Trial
  2. Assessment of a County-Wide, Pan-First Responder Take-Home Naloxone Program in Denver, Colorado.Journal of the American College of Emergency Physicians open · 2026
    Article
  3. Article
  4. Implementation of an EMS-based naloxone distribution program: A qualitative evaluation.Journal of the American College of Emergency Physicians open · 2024
    Article
4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

9 authors.

Emily E AgerDepartment of Emergency Medicine University of California, San Francisco San Francisco California USA.
Ella K PuringtonDepartment of Emergency Medicine University of California, San Francisco San Francisco California USA.
Megan H PurdyDepartment of Emergency Medicine Denver Health Denver Colorado USA.
Brian BenenatiDepartment of Emergency Medicine University of California, San Francisco San Francisco California USA.
Jessica E BakerDepartment of Emergency Medicine UCLA Health Los Angeles California USA.
Christine Jane SchellackDepartment of Emergency Medicine UCLA Health Los Angeles California USA.
Graham C SmithDepartment of Emergency Medicine University of California, San Francisco San Francisco California USA.
Nathaniel R HuntDepartment of Emergency Medicine University of California, San Francisco San Francisco California USA.
Eve D LosmanDepartment of Emergency Medicine University of California, San Francisco San Francisco California USA.

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

Objectives: We evaluated a novel leave-behind naloxone (LBN) program that allows Emergency Medical Services (EMS) personnel to distribute naloxone after an opioid overdose. Our objective was to explore EMS engagement and experiences with the program, as well as interest in education on addiction and harm reduction. We also assessed the acceptability of LBN programs among people who use drugs (PWUD). Methods: We conducted telephone interviews with EMS personnel and residents of substance use recovery housing between February and September 2023. EMS personnel described their direct experiences with the LBN program and perceived facilitating factors and barriers to naloxone distribution. First responder interactions and support for LBN were explored with PWUD. A rapid assessment method was used to analyze the interview data. Results: Eighteen of the 23 EMS participants had distributed LBN; most agreed EMS agencies should have an LBN program. Barriers included forgetting, patient acuity, patients declining, and perceived liability. Facilitators included having a clear protocol, accessible kits, and minimal documentation burden. The majority expressed interest in harm reduction education. Eight of the 11 PWUD participants reported recent involvement in an opioid overdose. The majority supported LBN and felt comfortable receiving naloxone training from EMS. Conclusion: In this qualitative evaluation, we found broad support for EMS-based naloxone distribution among EMS personnel and PWUD. We identified several modifiable barriers to the success of such programs, which should be the subject of future investigation. EMS and harm reduction communities should support the expansion of LBN programs across the United States.

Indexed as

addictionEMSharm reductionleave‐behind naloxonenaloxonesubstance use

Identifiers

PMID39417009
PMCPMC11480357

What OpenQuestion holds

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LicenceCC BY-NC-ND
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Registered trials

None linked

Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.