New Jersey Paramedics Can Now Give Buprenorphine in the Field

A New Jersey EMS agency has become the first in the nation to equip paramedics with long-acting injectable buprenorphine.

It’s a move that could transform medication-assisted treatment from a clinic-based intervention into something that begins on the street, before a patient ever reaches a detox center.

Cooper EMS, the prehospital division of Cooper University Health Care in Camden, N.J., announced in March 2026 that its Mobile Intensive Care Unit paramedics are now authorized to administer extended-release injectable buprenorphine in the field.

A single dose can provide patients with one week to one month of opioid use disorder (OUD) coverage, all from a single EMS encounter.

Why Medication-Assisted Treatment Starts Before the ER

For people dependent on opioids, the window between surviving an overdose and accessing formal treatment is one of the most dangerous periods in the recovery process.

Many patients are revived with naloxone and then lost to follow-up, never making it to a medical detox program or outpatient treatment.

“Too often, patients survive an overdose but fall through the cracks before they can access treatment,” said EMS Medical Director Gerard G. Carroll, MD. Paramedics, Carroll noted, are often the only point of contact a person with opioid use disorder has with the healthcare system.

Making medication-assisted treatment available at that moment, in the field, immediately after reversal, fundamentally changes what emergency care can accomplish.

The Cooper EMS program builds on an earlier initiative in which paramedics administered sublingual (dissolving tablet) buprenorphine to overdose patients.

The new extended-release injectable formulation dramatically extends that coverage window.

What Is Buprenorphine and How Does It Work

Buprenorphine is a partial opioid agonist, it activates opioid receptors in the brain, but with a ceiling effect that reduces the risk of overdose compared to full agonists like heroin or fentanyl.

It is a cornerstone of medication-assisted treatment for opioid use disorder and is the active ingredient in Suboxone (combined with naloxone).

In its extended-release injectable form, a single administered dose steadily releases buprenorphine over days or weeks, eliminating the need for daily dosing and reducing the risk of missed doses or diversion.

For patients who may not immediately follow up with a detox center or outpatient MAT provider, that sustained coverage can be lifesaving.

The Gap Between Overdose Reversal and Medical Detox

One of the most significant barriers to opioid recovery is the gap between emergency intervention and enrollment in a formal detox or treatment program.

Medical detox for opioids, which typically involves medically supervised withdrawal management and MAT induction, is the evidence-based standard of care. However, access remains uneven, particularly in underserved urban areas like Camden.

Carroll acknowledged that the long-acting formulation is especially valuable in communities with limited addiction treatment infrastructure.

Patients who might otherwise relapse before reaching a detox center or outpatient MAT clinic now have a buffer, biochemical time, in essence, to arrange follow-up care.

Finding Medical Detox for Opioid Use Disorder

If you or someone you love is struggling with opioid use disorder, do not attempt to stop using opioids without medical supervision.

Opioid withdrawal, while rarely fatal on its own, carries serious risks, including severe dehydration, relapse, and overdose death, particularly when tolerance has dropped.

Medical detox programs can safely manage withdrawal while initiating medication-assisted treatment with buprenorphine, methadone or naltrexone.

Search detox.com’s directory to find local detox centers. You can also call 800-996-6135(Sponsored) to speak with a treatment specialist today.