Oregon Launches Pilot Program to Expand Emergency Addiction Care

Salem, Oregon- The Oregon Health Authority (OHA) has initiated a six-month pilot program in partnership with the Oregon Public Health Institute (OPHI) and the Public Health Institute Bridge Center (Bridge Center) to enhance addiction care accessibility in emergency settings across Multnomah and Marion counties.

The program will train emergency responders to assess patients and administer medication-assisted treatment for opioid use disorder in the field before hospital transport. Additionally, emergency departments in the participating counties will receive training, tools, and hands-on support to improve 24/7 addiction services using an evidence-based model that has been successful in other states.

“Millions of people with substance use disorders visit emergency departments every year, yet only a minority are connected to evidence-based addiction care,” said OHA Director Sejal Hathi, M.D., MBA. “Even fewer are initiated on life-saving treatment in the field, even though this has been demonstrated as a novel overdose reduction strategy associated with a several-fold increase in ongoing care. We are grateful to partner with the Bridge Center and OPHI to institutionalize this model and increase access to low-barrier opioid use disorder care in Oregon.”

The initiative builds on efforts by the Alcohol and Drug Policy Commission, the Oregon Health Leadership Council, and OHSU’s Improving Addiction Care Team (IMPACT) program, alongside various local government, EMS, and hospital collaborations. These partnerships aim to establish emergency settings as critical entry points for opioid use disorder treatment.

OHA has allocated $300,000 for the project, with an additional $140,000 in leveraged resourcesfrom the Bridge Center, OPHI, and the Opioid Response Network (ORN). In addition to providing medication-based treatment in emergency rooms, the program will develop referral systems for community-based medication-assisted treatment.

“The Bridge Center is thrilled to partner with the Oregon Public Health Institute and OHA to make life-saving addiction medications more available to Oregonians struggling with substance use disorder,” said Arianna Campbell, Senior Director of the Bridge Center. “When emergency medical services and emergency departments are equipped to provide immediate, low-barrier care, communities gain access to critical treatment and support that is otherwise unavailable to far too many people.”

The pilot program aligns with recommendations from the Oregon Alcohol and Drug Policy Commission’s September 2024 Preliminary Report, which advocates for a statewide system to link care across the treatment continuum and accelerate the adoption of evidence-based practices, including access to medications for opioid use disorder.

“No corner of Oregon is untouched by the opioid crisis,” said Emily Henke, Executive Director of OPHI. “Research shows that when patients receive medication for opioid use disorder in an emergency setting, they are more likely to avoid overdose, stay in treatment, and reach long-term recovery. The Oregon Public Health Institute is proud to partner with the Bridge Center, OHA, and local communities to make this life-saving care more accessible—because every Oregonian deserves to recover.”