Preface:

This is the first edition of CSA Z1650, Paramedic response to the opioid crisis: Education and training across the treatment and care continuum in out-of-hospital and community settings.

This Standard was developed with funding support by Health Canada under the Substance Use and Addictions Program (SUAP). The views expressed herein do not necessarily represent the views of Health Canada.

This Standard has been developed in compliance with Standards Council of Canada requirements for National Standards of Canada. It has been published as a National Standard of Canada by CSA Group.

Scope:

1.1
This Standard provides a framework for the paramedic service organization's (PSO) response to the opioid crisis. The framework provides practical guidance on how to address opioid use in the out-of-hospital setting, including caring for patients during a poisoning or overdose, as well as tracking the crisis across paramedic service organizations. The Standard provides guidance regarding the full continuum of care including the prevention, treatment, and referral of patients experiencing problematic opioid use. To support paramedics in their out-of-hospital and community setting roles, the Standard addresses clinical practice, training and education, community engagement, and physical and psychosocial supports.

1.2
This Standard does not cover clinical opioid response and treatment procedures in an emergency room or hospital, nor does it cover emergency procedures for non-opioid poisoning and overdose.

1.3
In this Standard, "shall" is used to express a requirement, i.e., a provision that the user is obliged to satisfy in order to comply with the Standard; "should" is used to express a recommendation or that which is advised but not required; and "may" is used to express an option or that which is permissible within the limits of the Standard. Notes accompanying clauses do not include requirements or alternative requirements; the purpose of a note accompanying a clause is to separate from the text explanatory or informative material. Notes to tables and figures are considered part of the table or figure and may be written as requirements. Annexes are designated normative (mandatory) or informative (non-mandatory) to define their application.