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House Co-Sponsorship Memoranda
House of Representatives
Session of 2013 - 2014
Regular Session
MEMORANDUM
| Posted: | February 19, 2014 02:10 PM |
|---|---|
| From: | Representative Dan Frankel and Rep. Gene DiGirolamo |
| To: | All House members |
| Subject: | Legislation to combat the heroin and opioid overdose epidemic in Pennsylvania |
| In the very near future, we will introduce legislation to combat the alarming increase in heroin and opioid overdoses in the Commonwealth. We hope you will join us in this critically important endeavor. The intent of our legislation is two-fold: first, we want to establish a drug overdose Good Samaritan law in Pennsylvania to protect those who summon medical assistance for an overdose. Second, we want to increase the availability of Naloxone, a prescription drug which has been proven to help prevent heroin and opioid overdose deaths. Public health experts across the country are in agreement that these two provisions can save lives by preventing overdose deaths. Calling 9-1-1 should not be a crime when someone is seeking help for a drug overdose. Additionally, we believe that by increasing the availability of Naloxone (commonly known as narcan) to first responders including police, law enforcement, emergency medical service providers, firefighters, and to families and friends of opioid users, we can equip people with the tools they need to stop an overdose that is in progress. Naloxone is safe, is not a controlled substance, and has no abuse potential. Providing greater accessibility to Naloxone will help ensure that this life-saving drug is available when people need it. Recently, the national spotlight has illuminated the tragedy of heroin overdose in the case of Phillip Seymour Hoffman, but we know this epidemic is not limited to high-profile cases. In fact, Pennsylvania ranks 14th in overdose cases in the country, and families across our Commonwealth are dealing with a frightening increase in overdose deaths. Recently, in Allegheny County, public health officials raised the alarm after an epidemic of 22 heroin-related fatalities in the matter of a few days. We can and should take the steps necessary to address this issue – one of the defining issues of our time. Very simply, we believe this legislation will save lives and we ask for your support. |
Introduced as HB2090