Accidental overdose from opioids (heroin, fentanyl, and others) is a leading cause of death in the US, and increased by 100,000/year from 2020-2021. EMS calls for opioid related issues more than doubled between 2018 and 2020. To respond to this crisis, many LE agencies are equipping officers with naloxone (Narcan) for reversing overdoses prior to EMS arrival. Nalmefene, another opioid antagonist, has recently entered the picture, and is being marketed to many LE agencies. With increased education and availability, many patients suffering from addiction are being treated with buprenorphine (Suboxone, Subutex). Anecdotal reports of officers being incapacitated through passive exposure to fentanyl have led to widespread concern about dangers of interacting with people who may have drugs on them. This presentation will cover the landscape of new issues and innovations in opioids that officers may encounter in their work.

Dr. Jason Pickett serves as the EMS System Deputy Medical Director for the City of Austin and Travis County, Texas. He is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Emergency Medicine at Wright State University. He provides medical oversight and support to the Austin, Texas Police Department and Texas Department of Public Safety SWAT in this capacity. Dr. Pickett is the Tactical EMS Co-Chair for the Special Operations Medicine Scientific Assembly and is a member of the Guidelines and Practice Committee for the National Association of EMS Physicians. He is also a member of the Guidelines Committee for the Committee on Tactical Emergency Casualty Care. Dr. Pickett is Board Certified in Emergency Medicine and Subspecialty Board Certified in Emergency Medical Services. Before his position in Austin, Dr. Pickett served as the Director of the Center for Prehospital and Operational Medicine at Wright State University. He has served as Medical Director for several fire departments and police SWAT teams in the Dayton, Ohio area. He is currently a Major in the West Virginia Army National Guard as a Battalion Surgeon in a special operations unit.