WHATCOM COUNTY, WA (MyBellinghamNow.com) – First responders in Whatcom County are getting help from Washington state to fight the opioid crisis.

The Washington State Department of Health announced Wednesday, Oct. 9, that it’s partnering with Emergency Medical Services (EMS) providers in several counties to launch a new pilot program.

It will let EMS teams use a medication called buprenorphine while responding to an overdose to reduce the risk of future incidents. Buprenorphine is used to temporarily ease withdrawal symptoms after an opioid overdose, which can give the user a chance to talk with first responders about treatment, recovery and social services.

The announcement comes as Whatcom County has seen a drop in EMS calls for overdoses and reported overdose deaths over the past three months.

EMS providers in three counties have already started administering the new medication.

Whatcom and San Juan counties have both been approved to begin soon.