In a significant leap forward for emergency medical technology and overdose prevention, ZEM Life Device Co. has introduced a prototype wearable watch designed to detect opioid overdoses and automatically inject life-saving Narcan (naloxone) right from the wrist.
Born out of personal tragedy and driven by purpose, the company was founded in 2023 by Steve Muth and Dr. Joanna Sawyer. The device’s name honors Muth’s son, Zachary Ernest Muth (ZEM), who died in 2021 after unknowingly ingesting fentanyl-laced Xanax. Now, the ZEM Life Watch stands at the forefront of a potentially life-saving innovation.
The wearable is engineered to monitor vital signs such as heart rate, temperature, and motion using sensors on the underside of the device. If it detects physiological markers of an opioid overdose, it triggers a built-in autoinjector to deliver Narcan directl without requiring user intervention.
“The idea is simple: a discreet, reliable device that integrates into daily life and stands ready to act in a moment of crisis,” said Dr. Sawyer, the company’s co-founder and chief medical officer. “This is about making overdose intervention as fast, seamless, and accessible as possible.”
Each watch holds two medication cartridges, which users can refill at a pharmacy. ZEM Life is also working on physician controlled protocols, allowing healthcare professionals to regulate how and when medication is dispensed, enhancing safety and oversight.
Currently in the prototype phase, the ZEM Life Watch is undergoing FDA review, with approval expected in 2026. Initial distribution will be through the company’s website, with future plans to expand into retail and healthcare channels.
What sets this innovation apart is its fully automated, real-time response system. Unlike other wearable pain-relief technologies such as Oska Pulse or ActiPatch which focus on non-invasive relief through neuromodulation and electromagnetic therapy, the ZEM Life Watch uniquely stores and delivers medication. It could mark a turning point in the fight against the opioid crisis, where seconds matter.
“We’re not just treating symptoms we’re aiming to prevent tragedies before they unfold,” said Dr. Sawyer. “By bridging the gap between medication and real-time care, this device could redefine how we manage both pain and emergency response.”
ZEM Life is also developing specialized versions of the wearable for various age groups and environments, from infants and children to eldercare and at-home support.
As synthetic opioid-related deaths continue to rise globally, innovations like the ZEM Life Watch offer more than just hope they offer a practical, proactive, and scalable tool to save lives.