Project 467074

Deaths attributed to illicit substance misuse have increased exponentially during the COVID-19 pandemic.This drastic spike in deaths has largely been attributed to accidental overdoses of the potent synthetic opioid, fentanyl.Non-fatal overdoses have also increased during the COVID-19 pandemic. From June to August 2021, there were approximately 7,500 overdose calls throughout British Columbia. This marked the highest number of overdose calls ever recorded in a three-month stretch by BC Emergency Health Services (EHS). Given the rise in overdoses, the delivery of overdose care has become a significant part of service for paramedics in British Columbia. Yet to date, no study has investigated the experiences of BC paramedics who have responded to overdose calls during the pandemic, and how those experiences may impact the care they are able to provide to illicit drug users. This research will examine how the increase in overdose calls has impacted paramedics attitudes and interactions towards those who misuse illicit substances. BC Paramedics will be interviewed about their experiences serving overdose calls during the Covid-19 pandemic. A Reflexive Thematic Analysis will be used to identify common patterns in participant narratives. It is hypothesized that that paramedics will report common themes of disillusionment, burnout, compassion fatigue, and helplessness in response to the influx of overdose calls. Results of this study may be used to guide future quantitative research in this area. Additionally, results of this study may help to inform public policies and initiatives which could improve responses to overdose calls, and guide the creation of training and procedures for paramedics to better handle substance and addiction-related calls.