The ED is on the frontline of the overdose epidemic and offers tremendous opportunities for overdose rescue, opioid overdose prevention, and increased access and referral to addiction treatment. Cost, training, sustainability, access, and approach to potential ethical issues are basic challenges for all new and important public health measures, whether it is vaccination, use of child safety seats, or public-access defibrillation programs. Implementation obstacles do not determine the worth of programs with established benefits but demand thoughtful collaboration to find workable solutions.

We look forward to continuing to tackle issues of accessibility, cost, and liability to offer our patients the opportunities that come with survival.

Dr. Samuels is in the department of emergency medicine at the Alpert Medical School of Brown University in Providence, Rhode Island. Dr. Aks is in the department of emergency medicine at Cook County Health & Hospitals System and the Toxikon Consortium in Chicago. Dr. Bernstein is in the department of emergency medicine at Boston University School of Medicine’s Boston Medical Center and works at the Boston Medical Center Injury Prevention Center. Dr. Choo is in the department of emergency medicine at the Alpert Medical School of Brown University. Dr. Dwyer is in the department of emergency medicine at Brigham and Women’s Hospital in Boston. Dr. Green is in the department of emergency medicine at the Alpert Medical School of Brown University and works at the Boston Medical Center Injury Prevention Center. Dr. Hack is in the department of emergency medicine at the Alpert Medical School of Brown University. Dr. Juurlink is in the division of clinical pharmacology and toxicology at the University of Toronto. Dr. Mello is in the department of emergency medicine at the Alpert Medical School of Brown University. Dr. Ranney is in the department of emergency medicine at the Alpert Medical School of Brown University. Dr. Alexander Walley is in the clinical addiction research and education unit at Boston Medical Center. Dr. Whiteside is in the division of emergency medicine at the University of Washington in Seattle.

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