Abstract
The opioid crisis continues to affect individuals across the country, and requires a multifaceted approach to minimize the impact of this public health crisis. Through the chronic consumption of opioids, many individuals can become dependent on opioids and develop opioid use disorder. Buprenorphine/naloxone is the recommended treatment for patients living with opioid use disorder. The Emergency Strategic Clinical Network™ within Alberta Health Services is targeting the crisis through emergency departments by implementing a provincially standardized program. The Buprenorphine/Naloxone Initiation in Emergency Departments program includes screening for opioid use disorder, treatment initiation with the medication buprenorphine/naloxone, and providing rapid and reliable referrals to community clinics for titration and continuing patient care. This paper provides an overview of opioids, opioid use disorder, opioid agonist treatments such as buprenorphine/naloxone, and specifically details the program and protocol available in Alberta.
Highlights
The opioid crisis continues to affect Canadians of various ages, genders, geographical locations, and socioeconomic statuses
In Alberta, the Emergency Strategic Clinical NetworkTM (ESCN) within Alberta Health Services (AHS) has been leading the implementation of a province-wide strategy to help address the opioid crisis in emergency departments and urgent care centres (EDs) since March 2018
Buprenorphine/naloxone allows for greater flexibility and patient autonomy, which results in increased treatment compliance, retention, and reduced substance use (CRISM, 2018; Holland et al, 2014)
Summary
The opioid crisis continues to affect Canadians of various ages, genders, geographical locations, and socioeconomic statuses. In Alberta, the Emergency Strategic Clinical NetworkTM (ESCN) within Alberta Health Services (AHS) has been leading the implementation of a province-wide strategy to help address the opioid crisis in emergency departments and urgent care centres (EDs) since March 2018. The Buprenorphine/Naloxone Initiations in Emergency Departments program includes identifying OUD, initiating treatment with the medication buprenorphine/naloxone, and providing rapid and reliable referrals to community clinics for titration and continued patient care.
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