Narcan Non-Responders
Course Summary
Narcan Non-Responders is a toxicology-focused EMS continuing education course designed to help EMTs recognize patients who appear to have an opioid overdose but do not improve as expected after naloxone administration. The course emphasizes altered mental status, opioid mimics, mixed overdoses, emerging toxidromes, scene clues, reassessment, and EMT-level decision-making.
Course Details
EMTs, BLS providers, first responders, volunteer ambulance corps, and EMS agencies responding to overdose and altered mental status calls.
1 Hour
NJOEMS CEU application per class. Non-CEU delivery is also available when appropriate.
Lecture and discussion; case-based learning; toxidrome recognition; scenario decision-making.
Topics Covered
- Opioid overdose recognition
- Expected and unexpected response to naloxone
- Opioid mimics
- Mixed overdose presentations
- Altered mental status assessment
- Respiratory depression versus other causes of unresponsiveness
- Emerging toxidrome patterns
- EMT-level reassessment and escalation
Learning Objectives
- Recognize when a patient presentation may not be a simple opioid overdose.
- Identify common opioid mimics and mixed overdose clues.
- Describe the importance of reassessment after naloxone administration.
- Differentiate respiratory depression from other causes of altered mental status.
- Apply EMT-level decision-making to overdose and toxidrome scenarios.
Why Agencies Should Offer This Class
Overdose calls are common, but not every unresponsive patient is a straightforward opioid overdose. This class helps EMS providers avoid tunnel vision, improve reassessment habits, and recognize when additional causes of altered mental status may be present.
Agency Customization Options
- Agency-specific overdose trends
- Local destination considerations
- Common call types and case discussion