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Pennsylvania House of Representatives
04/25/2024 12:09 AM
Pennsylvania House of Representatives
https://www.legis.state.pa.us/cfdocs/Legis/CSM/showMemoPublic.cfm?chamber=H&SPick=20150&cosponId=20369
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House Co-Sponsorship Memoranda

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House of Representatives
Session of 2015 - 2016 Regular Session

MEMORANDUM

Posted: June 8, 2016 01:46 PM
From: Representative Bryan Barbin
To: All House members
Subject: Response to Opioid Overdose Deaths (2nd of 3 bills) Involuntary Committment for Emergency Opioid Overdoses
 
Response to Opioid Overdose Deaths

Opioid overdose deaths, 57 in Cambria County in 2015, have reached epidemic proportions and are endangering the addict, his family, and the community in Pennsylvania. Addicts that overdose and are taken to ER’s, given Naloxone, and thereafter refuse treatment walking out of the ER’s in many cases before the police arrive. Involuntary Commitment under current law, does not apply and District Attorneys cannot charge the overdose patient with possession of the illegal substance.

We need to do more, than hope that addicts voluntarily get treatment. Please join me in co-sponsoring 3 bills that will close loopholes that allow the opioid addict to beat the system. The 3 bills require addicts to receive effective treatment to end addiction by:
  1. Establishing Eight Regional Detox Centers across the Commonwealth paid for with tobacco
    settlement funds;
  2. Providing for Involuntary Commitment for Emergency Opioid Overdoses and; 2nd of 3 bills attached
  3. Reinstating Criminal Liability for Emergency Overdose Events.
View Attachment

Introduced as HB2201