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Thurston County EMS reports 25% drop in opioid-related responses; expands on-scene Suboxone and peer-referral program
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Summary
Emergency Services Director Ben Miller told the Board of Health that EMS opioid responses fell about 25% from 2024 to 2025, and described a Suboxone program (launched May 2025), partnerships with Catholic Community Services and plans for community listening sessions and an eighth medic unit to maintain response-time compliance.
Thurston County’s director of emergency services reported April 14 that county EMS saw a roughly 25% drop in opioid-related responses between 2024 and 2025, and outlined several operational changes intended to sustain that improvement and expand access to treatment.
Ben Miller, director for Emergency Services and Medic 1, told the Board of Health the 25% reduction was measured by Narcan administration in EMS calls. He also said crews shifted toward single-dose Narcan administrations more often than multiple-dose interventions, and that key initiatives — including on-scene Suboxone availability and improved referral pathways — are part of the county’s harm-reduction approach.
Miller described a Suboxone initiative that went live in May 2025: paramedics carry Suboxone on ALS units and may administer it at point of care. "We've been able to, treat and refer with Suboxone 20 individuals, in our community," he said, noting that crews leave Naloxone (Narcan) behind and — with patient permission — refer people to Catholic Community Services’ peer-navigation program for follow-up, housing assistance and clinic linkage.
Why it matters: making medication for opioid use disorder available at first contact and pairing it with peer support can reduce barriers to treatment and prevent further overdoses, Miller said. He emphasized that transport to an emergency department is optional after Suboxone administration, which he and other board members said increases patient autonomy and may improve follow-up.
Miller also reviewed system-level changes. The county added an eighth medic unit to preserve urban response-time compliance and protect rural coverage; early data showed urban compliance rise from about 90% to 95% in the first three months after deployment. He warned that paramedic staffing shortages and limited mental-health bed capacity remain constraints and urged continued community engagement: the county plans town halls, surveys and listening sessions through mid-2026 to gather resident input on EMS needs.
Miller highlighted partnerships and training: Thurston County Medic 1 has national accreditation for ultrasound use in prehospital care, and the county is using CDC overdose-prevention funds to support training and integration with Catholic Community Services’ port program.
The board thanked Miller for the detailed update and asked staff to continue community outreach and share outcome data from the Suboxone and peer-navigation efforts as they become available.
