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Not My Addiction
First responders continue to treat an extraordinary number of patients who have overdosed on opioids. Not My Addiction features four recovering opioid addicts who share their experiences with the associated pain, overdose, and near death consequences of their struggle with addiction. The video is designed to educate first responders (EMTs, paramedics, firefighters, police officers, etc.) about the true human costs of addiction and help first responders to focus on compassion and understanding. The fundamentals of opioid addiction are typically not a part of the formal EMT or paramedic training program and this lack of education can become a catalyst for stigma.
To view a version subtitled in Spanish, click here.
Updates
Aug. 22, 2019: The St. Charles County (Mo.) Ambulance District takes a progressive approach to helping opioid abusers with its SURRT program; learn more in this video produced by EMS World.
Aug. 22, 2019: Watch the new Not My Addiction trailer.
June 3, 2019: Not My Addiction won a Gold Telly award at the 40th annual Telly Awards.
Testimonial
I found the video Not My Addiction to be one of the best works illustrating the real-world human impact of substance use disorder and the effect this illness has on patients and their families. What may begin as a bad decision ends up becoming a spiraling trap that few people, even healthcare providers, fully comprehend. I want all my prehospital as well as medical students to watch this compelling documentary demonstrating the daily battle these users face, coupled with the very real hope of meaningful and lasting sobriety if these patients are given the opportunity to escape their death grip of addiction. Viewers will gain a much deeper understanding of the psyche leading up to recovery, which will help them manage these patients in a much more comprehensive way.
—David K. Tan, M.D., EMT-T, FAAEM, FAEMS, Associate Professor and EMS Section Chief, Division of Emergency Medicine, Washington University School of Medicine
