Prehospital Use of Medication-Assisted Treatment for Opioid Use Disorder: A Rapid Review of Implementation Approaches and Outcomes.
Substance Abuse and Rehabilitation · 2025-01-01 · Systematic review
Abstract
This study aimed to evaluate the use of prehospital medication-assisted treatment (MAT) administration by Emergency Medical Services for opioid use disorder (OUD) through a review of literature published between 2014-2024. A search of the NCBI repository using selected keywords returned N=28 results; articles meeting the inclusion criteria (n=13) were reviewed and analyzed. Heterogeneity among studies was assessed using the Chi-squared test and I² statistic. Studies were categorized into two primary domains: implementation and protocols or patient outcomes. Findings suggest that while MAT administration extends on-scene time, it significantly improves patient retention in OUD treatment. However, operational challenges, including geographical disparities in access and racial inequities in retention, limit widespread implementation. This review underscores the consistent safety of prehospital MAT administration, specifically by EMS personnel outside of an emergency department, yet highlights the need for addressing these barriers to optimize its effectiveness as a critical intervention in managing OUD in the prehospital setting.
Abstract © the authors or publisher, via PubMed. Reuse and removal
Tags
Poisoning & substance use · Methadone & buprenorphine · Implementation · Equity & disparities
Related articles
- The Role of Emergency Medical Services in Addressing Opioid Use Disorder-A Position Statement and Resource Document of NAEMSP. (Prehosp Emerg Care, 2026)
- Implementation Barriers of Prehospital Buprenorphine Administration Programs in the United States: A Scoping Review. (Prehosp Emerg Care, 2025)
- Paramedic perspectives on prehospital buprenorphine: A qualitative case study of implementation in emergency medical services. (Am J Emerg Med, 2026)
- Preparing Emergency Medical Services for Prehospital Buprenorphine: Examining a Train-the-Trainer Approach to Strengthening the Overdose Chain of Survival. (J Am Coll Emerg Physicians Open, 2026)
- An Analysis of Medications for Opioid Use Disorder (MOUD) Prehospital Programs Across North Carolina. (Prehosp Emerg Care, 2026)
- Lessons Learned from the Implementation of the Wake County, North Carolina EMS Medication for Opioid Use Disorder Program. (Prehosp Emerg Care, 2025)