Waterville Fire Dept. to Offer Opioid Treatment in Field

Waterville Fire Department paramedics will now administer medication-assisted treatment in the field, following city council approval of a new pilot program. This initiative targets individuals experiencing opioid withdrawal or recovering from overdose, aiming to provide immediate, evidence-based care.

The program allows advanced life support clinicians to administer buprenorphine, a medication that eases withdrawal symptoms and reduces cravings. This medication is crucial for patients who may decline hospital transport after being revived by naloxone, as they remain at high risk for repeat overdose.

Since the beginning of 2025, the Waterville Fire Department has responded to 62 opioid-related incidents, including 33 comatose patient overdoses. The new program seeks to create a practical bridge to ongoing care by connecting patients with Waterville's Community Impact Team for referrals to treatment providers.

This approach aligns with harm reduction principles and aims to reduce the stigma surrounding substance use disorders. The city is also looking to Westbrook's Fire Department, which recently received approval to provide Suboxone and is set to launch its program on July 1.