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Advocacy for EMS Treatment of Opioid Withdrawal Grows

By June 11, 2025No Comments

Our Chief Medical Officer advocated for EMS Initiated Buprenorphine (EMS Bupe) in his recent testimony to the New York State Assembly. Thank you to the Buffalo News Editorial Board for raising awareness on EMS Bupe and for amplifying Dr. Lynch’s voice.

Read the Buffalo News Article

       Dr. Joshua Lynch, Chief Medical Officer of the MATTERS program, recently testified to the New York State Assembly during their public hearing on synthetic opioids in the U.S. drug supply. During his testimony, Dr. Lynch advocated for the state to pass Assembly Bill A2253, legislation that would allow paramedics to carry and administer buprenorphine to people experiencing opioid withdrawal. EMS-Initiated Buprenorphine (EMS Bupe) has proven to be effective in linking individuals to treatment and resources for substance use disorder and is associated with better engagement in treatment.

       After giving this testimony, news sources across New York State published several articles about EMS Bupe. During his testimony, Dr. Lynch explained that other states like New Jersey have empowered paramedics to initiate treatment for substance use disorder in the field for years. In a 2023 publication, data from the New Jersey program showed promise; their EMS Bupe program demonstrated a decline in opioid withdrawal symptoms, increased engagement in follow-up care, and had no impact on repeat overdose risk. This program was so successful that New Jersey’s Mobile Intensive Care Advisory Council (MAC) voted unanimously to expand the scope of practice of buprenorphine administration in 2025. This allowed for the administration of buprenorphine to treat opioid withdrawal symptoms without the prerequisite of overdose, further expanding pre-hospital access to medication for addiction treatment (MAT).

       The Buffalo News article echoed one main point from Dr. Lynch: Language in Assembly Bill A5532 should explicitly allow for buprenorphine administration regardless of whether the patient has received naloxone. The Buffalo News Editorial Board published, “New York could always look to other states that have passed laws allowing paramedics to carry Suboxone and buprenorphine for best practices. And legislators should learn from the example of New Jersey, which made the law too restrictive by requiring paramedics to use the drugs only after naloxone was used beforehand.”

       Expanded access to MAT, including buprenorphine, is an important effort to combat the opioid overdose epidemic. Thank you to the Buffalo News for continuing to raise awareness on this legislation. Click here to read more about EMS Bupe.

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