(PRESS RELEASE)

March 11, 2019 — With generous support from the Independence Blue Cross Foundation under the Supporting Treatment and Overdose Prevention (STOP) program, the Medical Toxicology Foundation presents ‘Curbing the Opioid Crisis in Philadelphia: Increasing  Emergency Department Initiation of Buprenorphine-Naloxone for Opioid Use Disorder’ in part as a response to spiking overdose deaths in Philadelphia. 

This one-hour presentation, designed to educate attending physicians and medical residents on the administration of buprenorphine in the emergency department (ED) for opioid overdose patients,  will be offered several times throughout 2019. Buprenorphine is one of three medications approved in the United States to treat opioid addiction, by easing withdrawal symptoms and cravings.  

Principal investigator, Jeanmarie Perrone, MD, FACMT, a professor of emergency medicine based at the Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania, along with co-faculty on this project, aim to demystify buprenorphine administration and to share the evidence for the efficacy of buprenorphine in the treatment of opioid use disorder. “This treatment, when initiated in the ED, doubles the rate of engagement in treatment at 30 days compared to patients given an outpatient referral for treatment. We believe that offering patients a treatment opportunity during their ED visit, destigmatizes medication use for recovery and demonstrates compassion and care to a highly at-risk population” explains Dr. Perrone. 

Learn more at: https://www.acmt.net/mtf/Buprenorphine101.html 

The Medical Toxicology Foundation (MTF) is the charitable arm of the American College of Medical Toxicology (ACMT), a nonprofit professional membership association. The mission of  MTF is ‘Advancing research and education in the prevention and treatment of patients adversely  impacted by drugs, chemicals, and natural toxins.’ The MTF supports medical toxicologists through funding for research, travel awards, and education.