Press Release
For Immediate Release
Contact Information
Kristin Hanson
Email: Kristin.Hanson@seattle.gov
Seattle Fire Department Firefighter/EMTs Administer Buprenorphine at 100th Patient Encounter in the Field
The City of Seattle reaches milestone resulting in more patients receiving follow-up care.
SEATTLE – This August, Seattle Fire Department (SFD) firefighter/EMTs administered buprenorphine for the 100th time as part of their successful Buprenorphine Pilot Program to help patients experiencing an opiate overdose or active withdrawal. Following Mayor Harrell’s he pilot began in early 2024 with SFD paramedics and in late 2024 was expanded with Seattle becoming the first city in the country to allow firefighter/EMT-B rank to administer this lifesaving medicine.
“As the first city in the nation to operationalize firefighter/EMTs administering buprenorphine in response to the devastating opioid overdose crisis, Seattle is at the forefront of innovative solutions that will save lives,” said Mayor Bruce Harrell. “It’s an honor to celebrate the 100th administration of this evidence-based program that increases the chances that people recovering from an overdose or suffering withdrawal will say ‘yes’ to treatment and care. With a new post-overdose center coming online this month and our increased investments in treatment options, we are building a network of support for our family, friends, and neighbors taking the first step on their pathway to recovery.”
Buprenorphine is given to patients who are being treated for an opiate overdose or to those actively experiencing withdrawal symptoms. It temporarily stabilizes patients and provides short-term relief from withdrawal symptoms to allow emergency responders to better engage in conversations around treatment, recovery and social services.
As of August 2025, overdose deaths in Seattle are down 20% compared to 2024 and down 36% compared to 2023, according to King County Medical Examiner’s Office data.
“The fire department will always invest in taking steps to improve our patient care in the field,” said Fire Chief Harold Scoggins. “Through the expansion of allowing our firefighter/EMTs to administer buprenorphine, we continue to strive to fulfill our mission of saving lives by meeting patients where they are at in life. This program has proven time and time again that patients who receive this medication are more open to discussions about follow-up treatment, and our Health 99 and Health One units are well equipped to navigate those conversations.”
The department’s paramedics have administered the medicine 48 times, and with the 100th administration by firefighter/EMTs on August 15, this brings the total to 148 patients treated on separate occasions since the launch of the initial pilot program. Some patients included in this count were treated more than once by SFD responders, and the level of dose given varies.
SFD currently has about 35 paramedics and 19 firefighter/EMTs trained to administer the medicine. The department has transitioned to primarily having firefighter/EMTs who staff the post-overdose response team (Health 99) lead the effort for providing this life-saving treatment to patients in the field. Currently, SFD responds to approximately 63 patients per week experiencing an overdose across the city. Health 99 has responded to more than 1,376 overdoses since it launched in July 2023.
“Over the past nine months, we have witnessed firsthand how transformative field buprenorphine can be for immediate overdose response,” said SFD Mobile Integrated Health Program Manager Jon Ehrenfeld. “This medication relieves withdrawal symptoms, protects against overdose and provides an unparalleled opportunity for our clients to begin the process of recovery. This team has set a national example for how EMS systems can be part of the solution for opioid use disorders.”
Later this month, DESC is celebrating their grand opening of its Opioid Recovery & Care Access (ORCA) Center that will provide 24/7 post-overdose stabilization for up eight people. This program is supported by a $3.37 million capital funding investment by the City utilizing funding from U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development’s Community Development Block Grant Program and was part of a $27 million investment supporting Mayor Harrell’s Executive Order 2023-04: Addressing the Opioid and Synthetic Drug Crisis in Seattle, announced as part of the Downtown Activation Plan to create a safe, welcoming downtown.
Dennis Worsham, Washington Secretary of Health
“This program brings a life-saving medication closer to people in crisis — a step that will save lives and connect those with opioid use disorder to recovery resources. Preventing an overdose is critical, and helping our neighbors begin recovery is a success that benefits our entire community.”
Tanya Kim, Director, Seattle Human Services Department (HSD)
"Reaching the 100th administration of buprenorphine is an important milestone in our response to the opioid crisis. Our HSD caseworkers work alongside the Fire Department to provide immediate support and connect people to services. This partnership ensures that life-saving care in the field is linked to the resources and guidance people need to begin recovery."
Dr. Michael Sayre, SFD Medical Director
“Buprenorphine is allowing us to move beyond reversal of overdose to true engagement. Relieving withdrawal symptoms in the field creates the space to talk with patients about recovery and initiate follow-up care. Reaching 100 patients treated by EMTs is an important step in demonstrating the effectiveness and scalability of this strategy.”
Daniel Malone, DESC Executive Director
“We congratulate the Seattle Fire Department on this groundbreaking achievement and their continuous innovation in addressing the overdose crisis, including bringing buprenorphine directly to patients in the field. By taking these bold steps, SFD is setting a new national standard for compassionate, science-based care. DESC is proud to partner with SFD, continuing treatment for many of these patients through our Crisis Solutions Center and Opioid Treatment Network. We are especially excited to build on this partnership with the opening of our Opioid Recovery & Care Access (ORCA) Center in the coming weeks, which will provide SFD a new place to refer overdose survivors for additional stabilization and ongoing care.”
Health 99 Team Testimonials:
Testimonial 1: Health 99 responded to an overdose in West Seattle and upon arrival, found a patient who had received Narcan. The crew immediately recognized withdrawal symptoms in the patient and administered buprenorphine. The patient had almost immediate relief from their symptoms and following an additional dose, felt much better and opted to go to his partner’s residence to rest. The crew provided him with multiple options for obtaining long-acting injectable buprenorphine to continue on the path to recovery. The Health One Advanced Registered Nurse Practitioner (ARNP), also wrote the patient a prescription for more buprenorphine and for comfort medications.
Testimonial 2: Health 99 responded to an overdose in the Belltown neighborhood and administered buprenorphine to a patient experiencing withdrawal symptoms. Once his symptoms were relieved, he began talking to the crew about his desire to stop using fentanyl. The patient was transported to the DESC Opioid Treatment Network where he was able to receive an immediate intake and a first dose of Sublocade, a long-acting injectable form of buprenorphine. Following this visit, the team picked him up from the clinic and took him back to his shelter bed in Queen Anne, with plans to continue engaging with the clinic. Two days later the crew met with him again and reported that he looked healthy, well-rested, and was making plans to continue his recovery and reunite with family.
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