Seattle Mayor Bruce Harrell joined the Seattle Fire Department (SFD), emergency medical responders, and state health officials to provide an update on the city’s innovative Buprenorphine Pilot Program.
Launched earlier this year, the program equips paramedics and firefighter/EMTs to administer buprenorphine, a medication used to treat opioid use disorder and reduce the risk of future overdoses.
Seattle became the first city in the nation to allow firefighters or EMTs to administer the medication this fall, following the initial state authorization for paramedics in the spring.
Since the program’s launch, 38 paramedics and 11 firefighter/EMTs have been trained to administer buprenorphine, with 48 patients treated through December 9.
Mayor Harrell praised the initiative as a health-focused approach to combat the growing fentanyl and synthetic opioid crisis. “This evidence-backed pilot makes treatment and care more accessible to the people who need it most,” Harrell said.
Buprenorphine stabilizes patients experiencing opioid withdrawal symptoms, alleviating pain and creating a critical opportunity for first responders to engage them in discussions about recovery.
A single dose provides 24 to 48 hours of protection from overdose and has been shown to cut long-term mortality from opioid addiction in half.
Fire Chief Harold Scoggins emphasized the program’s importance. “This allows us to continue meeting patients where they are, versus only providing access to the medication at facilities,” Scoggins said.
The program builds on the city’s efforts to address the opioid crisis, including the Health 99 post-overdose response team. Launched in July 2023, the Health 99 team—composed of a firefighter/EMT and caseworker—provides follow-up outreach and has responded to 752 calls in the field, 629 of which were for overdoses.
The team has also distributed over 600 naloxone kits to patients, friends, and bystanders.
Human Services Department Director Tanya Kim highlighted the combined efforts of Health 99 and caseworkers to create opportunities for recovery. “We’re reinforcing our commitment to a compassionate approach to the opioid crisis,” Kim said.
The City has tripled its investments in health-focused opioid response programs in the 2025-2026 budget, adding a second Health 99 team and expanding Mobile Integrated Health (MIH) initiatives.
Future plans include a post-overdose stabilization center to provide additional care and connect patients to treatment.
Seattle’s partnership with the Washington State Department of Health has been pivotal in implementing these programs.
Umair A. Shah, Secretary of Health, commended first responders for their efforts, saying, “This pilot program brings essential care closer to those who need it most.”
SFD’s Medical Director Dr. Michael Sayre noted the significant impact of buprenorphine. “Empowering EMTs in the Health One program to administer this medication expands the number of patients with quick access to this life-saving treatment,” Sayre said.
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