In the midst of a severe opioid epidemic, nearly all 50 states in the United States have reported significant rises in deaths attributed to opioid use in recent years. As these fatalities surge, the opioid crisis has evolved into a widespread public health emergency. This situation not only affects the nation but also profoundly impacts families and communities mourning the loss of individuals from overdoses.
Being acutely aware of the sorrow that follows the loss of someone to opioid use, ZEM Life stands as a proactive startup co-founded by Steven Muth and Dr. Joanna Sawyer, who are dedicated to making a substantial difference in overdose prevention and alleviating the suffering caused by the opioid crisis.
One tragic evening, Muth’s 23-year-old son, Zachary Ernest Muth, ingested a pill contaminated with fentanyl and tragically did not awaken. Muth recounted, “Experiencing the loss of someone so dear is accompanied by an all-consuming anxiety of anguish.” Rather than succumbing to overwhelming guilt, Muth transformed his grief into a driving force aimed at preventing other parents from enduring similar devastation.
This led Muth to contemplate the potential of a wearable device that could function like an emergency facility, continuously monitoring vital signs and possibly averting these tragic, preventable losses immediately.
A fortuitous blind date brought Muth and Dr. Sawyer together; this encounter helped to breathe life into his vision. Muth learned that Dr. Sawyer was an anesthesiologist who possessed both crucial medical knowledge and a shared commitment to making a positive difference, making her an exceptional partner in bringing this revolutionary concept to fruition.
Upon hearing Muth’s poignant story, Dr. Sawyer collaborated to develop a medical smartwatch capable of administering life-saving drugs when necessary. Hence, ZEM Life was established, representing a viable, life-preserving technology named in memory of Muth’s son (Zachary Ernest Muth).
The ZEM Life smartwatch is equipped to monitor signs of potential overdose using various data metrics, including pulse and oxygen saturation levels. When an overdose is identified, the device alerts the wearer. If the alert is not addressed, the smartwatch automatically administers Narcan—a critical medication that reverses opioid overdoses—and transmits the wearer’s GPS location to emergency responders.
Muth and Dr. Sawyer are prioritizing overdose prevention, with Narcan as the primary medication featured to honor Muth’s son, Zach. They fully recognize and value how immediate intervention can save innumerable lives, especially for individuals who may find themselves isolated during an overdose event.
The extensive possibilities for this technology extend to various health emergencies where prompt response and timely interventions could substantially improve outcomes, addressing situations such as anaphylactic shock, cardiac arrest, and animal bites.
Dr. Sawyer envisions that ZEM Life’s ambition to broaden the technology’s application beyond just preventing opioid overdoses fulfills the company’s aspiration to create a “new sector similar to what BAND-AID accomplished.” She imagines a marketplace dedicated to technology and brands centered on “preventable deaths, believing that ZEM Life will become synonymous with safeguarding lives through timely medication delivery.”
Steered by a commitment to introduce life-saving technology to a nation confronted with a resurgence of the opioid crisis, ZEM Life is addressing the pivotal question of “why” regarding preventable fatalities. This focus motivates Steven Muth and Dr. Joanna Sawyer to utilize remarkable resources that, when synergized with life-saving treatments, can lead to preserving more lives—and uniting more families.
