Naloxone Dispensation (Leave Behind) Program
The Naloxone Dispensation program allows EMS clinicians to leave a Naloxone kit with a patient experiencing a suspected narcotic overdose and who refuses transport to an emergency department. The kit may be left with the patient, a member of the patient’s family, or a friend. It is important to note that the kits are designed for use by laypersons and differ from naloxone packaging intended for administration by EMS clinicians.
Maine law provides for the dispensing of naloxone by emergency medical services persons (Title 32, section 88 B, subsection 1, paragraph A and Title 22, section 2353, subsection 2-A). EMS agencies wishing to participate in the naloxone dispensation program should enroll, order naloxone kits, and reorder naloxone kits at https://getmainenaloxone.org/public-safety/ .
The Maine EMS protocols, effective December 1, 2021, provide criteria for the dispensing of naloxone by Maine licensed EMR’s, EMTs, AEMTs, and Paramedics (Yellow #4 – Naloxone Dispensation). This protocol section states:
It is important to note that EMS clinicians MUST complete the online, MEMSEd training entitled, “Maine EMS Naloxone ‘Leave Behind’ Dispensation Training” before dispensing naloxone leave-behind kits to the patient, their family member, or friend. The Naloxone Leave Behind Program and Dispensation Training does not impact EMS clinicians’ authorization to administer naloxone for the clinical management of a patient suspected of experiencing an opioid overdose. Naloxone leave behind kits must not be used by EMS clinicians in the clinical management of the patient and are only to be utilized for distribution to survivors of opioid overdose, their friends or family.
Maine EMS, in collaboration with the Maine Department of Health and Human Services, is providing nasal naloxone kits and required printed materials for distribution by clinicians responding with EMS transporting agencies. EMS transporting agencies wishing to participate in the Naloxone Leave Behind Program must request naloxone leave behind kits from the state by going to https://getmainenaloxone.org/ems/.
These kits are specifically designed to be left behind and include additional educational materials. There is no charge to agencies for leave behind kits. Colleagues at the University of Maine Orono have put together a YouTube Video to assist EMS agencies with requesting naloxone from the state’s supply for this program.
Effective December 1, 2023, when an EMS activation is documented as a suspected opioid overdose a required question will become visible asking “Did you leave behind a naloxone kit.”
If the answer is "YES” then the clinician will be asked:
- To whom and provide additional information about who they left the kit with.
- Did you perform point of care training for the use of an approved naloxone kit?
- Has the recipient ever administered naloxone before?
If the clinician answers "NO” then they will be asked for any reason(s) why they did not leave a kit behind.