- Vermont. For NBC5, Lauren Granada reports on a new team of first responders handling overdose-related calls from within the Burlington Fire Department, to combat a “number of overdoses in the city that continues to break records.” Burlington Fire Chief Michael La Chance explains that the overdose response unit, which is composed of firefighters and paramedics, “responds to suspected overdoses and unresponsive patient calls” in order to “help patients break the ongoing cycle of addiction” and “free up resources to respond to more needs in the city.”
- North Carolina. For the Carteret County News-Times, Cheryl Burke reports on Carteret County’s new Post-Overdose Response Team, or PORT. County Health Director Nina Oliver explains how the program works:
“The team is connected to active 911 calls [and] when overdose calls come through, they go straight to the team. They respond to the scene with first responders. Even if those who have overdosed don’t want help at the time, team members continue to follow up with each person and family [within 72 hours]” and connect them “to suitable care, provide overdose education about addiction, and reduce overdose mortality.”
- Ohio. For The Associated Press, Geoff Mulvihill and Carla Johnson report on a new Quick Response Team in Hancock County that identifies people who have survived an overdose and connects them to medical, housing, and other community resources. The team also contacts people being released from jail and prison who are at high risk for overdose as well. “There’s evidence that the efforts are helping,” the AP reports: “Aafter 28 overdose deaths last year, Hancock County has three confirmed overdose deaths and five suspected ones in 2023.”