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Senate Co-Sponsorship Memoranda
Senate of Pennsylvania
Session of 2013 - 2014
Regular Session
MEMORANDUM
| Posted: | May 9, 2014 09:50 AM |
|---|---|
| From: | Senator Andrew E. Dinniman |
| To: | All Senate members |
| Subject: | Legislation to help prevent deaths from opioid and heroin overdose |
| I will soon introduce legislation to help provide the timely administration of Naloxone (Narcan) to those suffering a heroin or opioid overdose. Naloxone is an opioid antidote that reverses the effects of opioids and heroin and can save the lives of overdose victims. Naloxone is safe, not a controlled substance and has no abuse potential. My bill specifically would allow those most likely to encounter overdose victims – family and friends of addicts as well as authorized emergency responders including police, firefighters and ambulance corps members – hold and administer Naloxone. It would further require that those emergency responders seeking the ability to hold and administer Naloxone first be trained and authorized to do so. Emergency response officials in my district have asked for this legislation because they know it would help their police departments, fire companies, rescue squads and ambulance corps stop preventable deaths. My legislation would also establish a drug overdose Good Samaritan law to protect from criminal or civil liability those who administer Naloxone to someone they believe is suffering an opioid overdose. Such protection would also be given to those who summon medical assistance for an overdose victim. Finally, my bill would have the Pennsylvania Department of Health develop or approve the above-mentioned training for emergency responders, and also have the department work with local governments to provide information about opioid drug addiction and the prevention of overdose deaths. I hope you join me in co-sponsoring this important legislation. |
Introduced as SB1376