AUSTIN, Texas — Austin Travis County Emergency Medical Services continues to see success with its Buprenorphine Bridge Program (BBP).
The KVUE Defenders took an in-depth look at the program in 2022 and talked to patients who used it.
The drug is used to treat opioid withdrawal symptoms. Paramedics administer buprenorphine to patients who have already experienced an opioid overdose and have asked for help. The program offers help to patients while waiting to get into a recovery program, which can take about a week.
Since it launched in November 2020, ATCEMS Cpt. Christa Stedman said 449 patients have gone through the program and 93% of patients continued to a recovery program.
In a press release issued on Tuesday, Chief Deputy Medical Director Heidi Abraham said, "One of the unique things about our program is that we meet our patients where they are, which is incredibly important to their recovery … We know that there are multiple barriers between our patients and treatment, so by bringing the medications and resources to the patient, we are removing as many barriers as possible, so our patients are successful in their recovery."
Another milestone for the BBP: It recently surpassed more than 21,000 milligrams of buprenorphine administered. A typical adult dose is between 8 and 16 milligrams.
ATCEMS considers the BBP as one of the first of its kind among EMS systems around the country.
The program's success comes at a time when Central Texas continues to see high numbers of drug overdose deaths, especially fentanyl-related ones. According to the Texas Department of State Health Services, 86 people have died from fentanyl poisoning in Travis County so far in 2023.
In 2022, the Travis County Medical Examiner's Office reported 245 deaths from fentanyl poisoning.