First Responders

Regional Trainings for Post-Overdose Response Teams

Communities across the state are coming together to create an effective response to the significant increase in overdose deaths in recent years. Post-overdose response teams (PORTs; also called Quick Response Teams, Rapid Response, Community Response Teams, etc.) are an emerging strategy to meaningfully engage with people who have experienced overdose. These teams follow up with patients who have experienced an overdose within 72 hours. Teams seek to link the patient with appropriate care ranging from harm reduction services to treatment to recovery supports.

The NC Office of Emergency Medical Services in partnership with the NC Division of Public Health are hosting several regional trainings for post-overdose response team (PORT) development across the state. These PORT Trainings will equip participants to start or continue development of programs in partnership with first responders and harm reductionists. In addition to EMS-based partnerships, teams will learn to meaningfully engage with people with lived experience, people in recovery, and other harm reduction specialists when developing and operating PORTs.

All first responders and public safety professionals are highly encouraged to attend a training. These trainings are open to anyone who is interested in developing a post-overdose response team in their community.

Training Objectives

  • Take a critical look at our understanding of substance use disorders, addiction science, and people who use drugs (PWUD).
  • Gain an understanding of additional appropriate interventions, treatment, and linkage to care options for PWUD.
  • Examine what prevents people from seeking treatment.
  • Provide first responders and community partners with strategies aimed to identify resources in their community to support their team and how to make referrals to these agencies.
  • Equip you to develop a post-overdose response team to serve as a strategic approach to address overdose within your community.

Approximately 8 regional trainings for PORT development will be conducted across the state starting on the eastern side and through the western side over January to July 2019. The training will be one full business day (8a-5p). We are unable to provide travel support for attendance. Each training will cover the same information.

Current trainings that are open for registration:

Post-Overdose Response Team Regional Training Option
Tuesday, April 16, 2019: 8:00am - 5:00pm
Cabarrus County- Sheriff's Office, 7th floor (plan time for security clearance)
30 Corban Avenue SE, Concord, NC 28025

  • No fee for public safety/first responder employees. Continuing education credits will be provided (6 CE hours from OEMS).
  • $70 Fee for all other attendees (local health departments, non-profits, community volunteers, peer supports, clinicians, etc). See registration page for payment details. Contact Alan Thompson if you need additional payment information.


Post-Overdose Response Team Regional Training Option
Tuesday, May 7, 2019: 8:00am-5:00pm
Wilkes County- Wilkes Community College Kendrick Church Hall Room 1403
1328 S Collegiate Drive, Wilkesboro, NC 28697

  • No fee for public safety/first responder employees. Continuing education credits will be provided (6 CE hours from OEMS).
  • $70 Fee for all other attendees (local health departments, non-profits, community volunteers, peer supports, clinicians, etc). See registration page for payment details. You may contact Stephen Crouse if you need additional payment information at 336-838-6215.
     

Full schedule of anticipated trainings:

1. Ahoskie, Hertford County (Roanoke-Chowan Community College): Jan 25.
2. Kenansville, Duplin County (James Sprunt Community College): Feb 8.
3. Lillington, Harnett County (Central Carolina Community College-Harnett): March 1.
4. Greensboro, Guilford (Guilford Technical Community College): March 29- Postponed. New date to be announced.
5. Concord, Cabarrus County: April 16, Register here.
6. Wilkesboro, Wilkes County: May 7, Register here.
7. Asheville, Buncombe County: Date TBD in June.
8. Macon/Jackson County: Date TBD in June/July.
9. Hertford, Hertford County: Date TBD in July.

For questions regarding the post-overdose response team regional trainings contact:
McKenzie Beamer, NC OEMS, at mckenzie.beamer@dhhs.nc.gov or
Amy Patel, DPH, amy.patel@dhhs.nc.gov.

Additional Resources

Fentanyl Information for First Responders
Map of NC Counties with Law Enforcement Carrying Naloxone
Map of NC Counties with EMS Naloxone Take Home Programs IDUs
Most recent data available on the NCDHHS DPH IVPB Poisoning Data webpage.

 

 

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