SouthLight Partners with Wake County EMS to Improve Opioid Overdose Response

In a recent CBS 17 report, SouthLight was highlighted for its key role in a partnership with Wake County EMS aimed at improving the response to opioid overdoses.

Through the Medication for Opioid Use Disorder program, which launched in 2023, paramedics are now equipped with buprenorphine to treat opioid addiction and in the field. It is used as an immediate follow-up to Naloxone “Narcan®” for overdose.

This collaboration is making a significant impact by allowing paramedics to bridge a critical gap in care by providing immediate, on-scene treatment, which can help prevent withdrawal symptoms and lead to another overdose. Buying this time allows EMS providers to help patients get connected to long-term resources.

SouthLight’s Senior Clinical Director for Opioid Treatment, Ben Powell, discussed the vital role the organization plays in this effort. “We have close communication with the direct line workers at Wake EMS. We’re able to figure out when the person was last seen, know what happened, the dose they’ve received, and what they’ve been stable on. It makes the transition to our services very smooth.”

SouthLight not only assisted in training Advanced Practice Paramedics on how to administer buprenorphine, but also works closely with EMS to ensure the transition to long-term care is seamless.

Powell emphasized the importance of this new approach: “It provides a really unique opportunity to meet people where they are in the moment immediately after an overdose, when it’s one of the most dangerous times to be out there without medication-assisted treatment.”

By providing buprenorphine in the critical moments following an overdose, Wake County EMS and SouthLight are reducing the risk of further overdose and facilitating smoother access to ongoing addiction treatment.

For more information on this life-saving program, you can read the full CBS 17 story here: