Abstract
Overdose prevention centers allow people to use drugs that they bring in, and rescue them from overdoses if needed. But a new approach allows people to use drugs in their home, but on a phone call with someone who will listen to see if they need help. The approach was detailed in the radio program “This American Life” in September (https://www.thisamericanlife.org/809/the‐call) and was featured at the AMERSA conference by speaker Stephen Murray, who is a harm reduction program manager at Boston Medical Center, a former drug user and now a harm reduction expert and emergency medical technician (EMT). (ADAW tried to reach him this week but did not hear back by press time. In this approach, the drug user is told to leave the door unlocked so that emergency medical services (EMS) can get in if necessary. The caller administers the drug while online. The rescue agent (like Murray) talks them through the use, and if the agent hears any sign of an overdose, they call EMS, who comes in with naloxone and oxygen to rescue the user. The approach is another perspective on the “never use alone” concept. How EMS feels about it, and whether there are enough EMTs to answer this need, is unclear.
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