A Case Report of a Novel Harm Reduction Intervention Used to Detect Opioid Overdose in the Emergency Department

• Published in: Clinical practice and cases in emergency medicine Vol. 4; no. 4; pp. 548 - 550
• Main Authors: Schreyer, Kraftin, Malik, Saloni, Blome, Andrea, D’Orazio, Joseph
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Irvine University of California Digital Library - eScholarship 01-11-2020; University of California Irvine, Department of Emergency Medicine publishing Western Journal of Emergency Medicine; eScholarship Publishing, University of California
• Subjects: Case Report; Drug overdose; Emergency medical care; Harm reduction; Narcotics
• ISSN: 2474-252X; 2474-252X
• DOI: 10.5811/cpcem.2020.7.47936

Introduction: As over 130 people die daily from opioid overdose in the United States, harm reduction strategies have become increasingly important. Because public restrooms are a common site for opioid overdose, emergency department waiting room restrooms (EDWRR) should be considered especially high-risk areas. 
Case Report: We present the case of a patient found after a presumed opioid overdose in our EDWRR. Staff were alerted to his condition by a reverse motion detector (RMD), and rapidly treated him with naloxone. 
Conclusion: The RMD is a novel intervention that can save lives and should be considered in EDs with a high incidence of opioid overdose.