Table 5 Interventions commonly delivered following opioid-related overdoses in the ambulance, tertiary hospital ED and upon discharge
Interventions Delivered | March-to-August N (%) | ||
|---|---|---|---|
2019 | 2020 | Total | |
Ambulance Interventions | N = 37 | N = 18 | N = 55 |
  Oxygen | 13 (35.1) | 4 (22.2) | 17 (30.9) |
  Oropharyngeal airway insertion | 10 (27.0) | 2 (11.1) | 12 (21.8) |
  IV/IM naloxone | 9 (24.3) | 0 (0) | 9 (16.4) |
  Declined IV/IM naloxone | 0 (0) | 1 (5.6) | 1 (1.8) |
ED Interventions | N = 42 | N = 26 | N = 68 |
  IV/IM naloxone | 8 (19.0) | 14 (53.8) | 22 (32.4) |
  Psychiatric review | 12 (28.6) | 6 (23.1) | 18 (26.5) |
  Declined psychiatric review | 3 (7.1) | 0 (0) | 3 (4.4) |
  Paracetamol | 9 (21.4) | 6 (23.1) | 15 (22.1) |
  Drug and alcohol assessment | 6 (14.3) | 8 (30.8) | 14 (20.6) |
  Declined drug and alcohol assessment | 2 (4.8) | 2 (7.7) | 4 (5.9) |
  Oral/IV benzodiazepines (diazepam, midazolam, lorazepam and/or temazepam) | 10 (23.8) | 4 (15.4) | 14 (20.6) |
  Social work team review | 7 (16.7) | 3 (11.5) | 10 (14.7) |
  Declined social work team review | 1 (2.4) | 1 (3.8) | 2 (2.9) |
  Intubation and ventilation | 6 (14.3) | 3 (11.5) | 9 (13.2) |
  Naloxone infusion | 2 (4.8) | 5 (19.2) | 7 (10.3) |
  Self-harm and crisis counselling services team review | 3 (7.1) | 2 (7.7) | 5 (7.4) |
  N-acetylcysteine infusion | 2 (4.8) | 3 (11.5) | 5 (7.4) |
Post-discharge Interventions | N = 35 | N = 24 | N = 59a |
  General practitioner follow-up | 15 (42.9) | 8 (33.3) | 23 (39.0) |
  Psychology | 10 (28.6) | 3 (12.5) | 13 (22.0) |
  Indirect referral or continued engagement with community, non-government organisation or private drug and alcohol services | 5 (14.3) | 7 (29.2) | 12 (20.3) |
  Declined drug and alcohol services engagement | 2 (5.7) | 2 (8.3) | 4 (6.8) |
  Psychiatrist follow-up or transfer/referral to psychiatric hospital | 6 (17.1) | 5 (20.8) | 11 (18.6) |
  Changes to opioid and/or psychotropic medications (ceased, reduced dose and/or modified patient access) | 5 (14.3) | 2 (8.3) | 7 (11.9) |
  Self-help and crisis counselling services information and/or follow-up | 4 (11.4) | 2 (8.3) | 6 (10.2) |
  Harm minimisation education, including education regarding risks of overdose | 4 (11.4) | 1 (4.2) | 5 (8.5) |
  Mental health crisis information and contact numbers (e.g., Mental Health Emergency Response Line number) | 4 (11.4) | 1 (4.2) | 5 (8.5) |
  Mental health care plan (to be provided by general practitioner) | 4 (11.4) | 0 (0) | 4 (6.8) |
  Family involvement (e.g., psychoeducation or facilitation of discharge management plan) | 1 (2.9) | 3 (12.5) | 4 (6.8) |