TEMS Joint Ambulance District Recognized for Efforts in Preventing Opioid Overdoses

Toronto, Ohio — The TEMS Joint Ambulance District has been honored for its efforts in preventing fatal opioid overdoses, playing a crucial role in making naloxone more accessible and educating the public on overdose prevention.

The recognition came from the HEALing Communities Study in Ohio, which acknowledged the district’s initiative in placing NaloxBoxes at a local rest stop and spreading awareness about overdose intervention. The Toronto-based ambulance service installed naloxone kits in the men’s and women’s restrooms at the intersection of state Routes 7 and 213, ensuring quick access to the life-saving drug.

Bridget Freisthler of Ohio State University, a partner in the study, commended TEMS for leading the effort, which has now been replicated statewide. Since July 2023, the ambulance service has stocked these boxes with nasal sprays containing naloxone, commonly known as Narcan, which reverses the effects of opioids and helps restore breathing.

Each NaloxBox contains four naloxone kits, a CPR mask to reduce infection risk, and information on addiction treatment. These are among more than 130 boxes placed at 65 rest areas in partnership with the Ohio Department of Transportation, the Ohio Department of Health’s Project D.A.W.N., and the RecoveryOhio initiative launched by Governor Mike DeWine.

The HEALing Communities Study was initiated in 2017 when Ohio recorded the second-highest opioid overdose deaths in the country. It aims to reduce opioid-related fatalities by implementing effective intervention strategies in Ohio, Kentucky, New York, and Massachusetts. The initiative has received support from the National Institute on Drug Abuse and the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration.

TEMS Director Clark Crago emphasized the importance of these installations, recounting distressing incidents such as discovering an overdose victim with a toddler in the backseat of a vehicle. He stated that overdoses can often serve as a wake-up call for individuals struggling with addiction. He also highlighted that accidental overdoses are not uncommon among senior citizens prescribed opioid medications for pain relief.

Crago reassured that the nasal sprays in the rest stop kits contain small, harmless doses of naloxone, ensuring safety even if administered to someone not experiencing an overdose. The HEALing Communities Study reported that within six months of installation, 93 NaloxBoxes had been accessed. Despite initial concerns, their presence has not led to an increase in vagrancy, discarded needles, or other drug paraphernalia at rest stops.

Though the HEALing Communities Study has concluded, TEMS continues to restock naloxone through funding from Project D.A.W.N. and a discounted supply from Ohio Central Pharmacy. Recent state legislation also allows emergency services like TEMS to distribute naloxone without requiring a license for handling dangerous drugs.

Jefferson County Health Commissioner Andrew Henry noted a decline in opioid-related deaths, citing data from Trinity Health System’s emergency department. Fatal overdoses in the county peaked at 40 in 2022 but dropped to 14 in 2024. Nonfatal overdoses also declined from 259 in 2023 to 181 last year. Henry attributed the improvement to increased naloxone access, law enforcement efforts to curb drug circulation, and reduced social stigma around mental health and addiction treatment.

Henry expressed optimism about the progress, saying, “We’re heading in a more positive direction.”