Sage Teasley

Prehospital providers have long served on the frontlines of the overdose epidemic, yet until recently the most effective interventions for reducing opioid overdose deaths—such as Medication-Assisted Treatment (MAT) for Opioid Use Disorder (MOUD)—were largely confined to hospitals and outpatient clinics. In 2024, recognizing that many of the most vulnerable patients have limited access to MOUD, New Orleans EMS implemented protocols for prehospital buprenorphine induction. Integrated directly into 9-1-1 responses, this program combines paramedic-led MAT initiation with coordinated emergency department and community partnerships to ensure continuity of care.

As we enter the second year of the program, this presentation will review the evidence supporting prehospital buprenorphine, outline the development of our protocol, share early data demonstrating its essential role in addressing this public health crisis, and discuss the key challenges encountered during implementation.