St. Charles County Ambulance District’s Substance Use Recovery Response Team [SURRT] is a unique approach to treatment referral that debuted in 2017. A the time of an opiate overdose call, Paramedics will, as always, recommend that the patient go to the emergency department for further observation and treatment. Regardless of whether he/she agrees to be transported, a packet of treatment resources will be provided.

After providing care to the overdose victim, Paramedics will engage the patient in the difficult conversation surrounding their need for substance use treatment and encourage the patient to consent to participation in SCCAD’s Overdose Referral Program. If the patient agrees, a Paramedic trained in addiction counseling will follow up with the patient within 24-48 hours and facilitate communication and entry into one of the many treatment programs available to them.

Key to the success of this initiative are partnerships with dozens of mental health agencies that specialize in treatment of substance use disorder. Since the program’s debut, hundreds of patients have been referred to treatment.

Public Narcan

Thanks to a partnership with the National Council on Alcoholism & Drug Abuse [NCADA], SCCAD Paramedics can provide any resident of St. Charles County with two free doses of Narcan to keep at home. the program is intended to save lives by providing families who have a loved one struggling with substance use disorder the ability to administer life-saving treatment immediately upon recognition of an overdose.

In order to receive the Narcan, individuals must complete a short training on how to properly administer the medication in the event of an overdose. To learn more, please call 636.344.7600.

Treatment Resources in St. Charles County