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Pennsylvania House of Representatives
https://www.legis.state.pa.us/cfdocs/Legis/CSM/showMemoPublic.cfm?chamber=H&SPick=20190&cosponId=29242
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House of Representatives
Session of 2019 - 2020 Regular Session

MEMORANDUM

Posted: April 16, 2019 09:15 AM
From: Representative Brandon J. Markosek
To: All House members
Subject: Additional Good Samaritan Protection for Naloxone Distribution
 
In 2014, NCSL reported that 150,000 non-medical personnel successfully reversed over 26,000 reported overdoses across the country by using the “rescue drug”, naloxone, (NARCAN). U.S. Surgeon General, Dr. Jerome Adams, recently issued a public health advisory urging all Americans to receive training on naloxone administration and carry it with them in the event of a drug overdose.

In 2017, 5,456 Pennsylvanians lost their lives to drug-related overdose deaths. Broken down, this equals 43 deaths per 1,000 individuals. In the same year, law enforcement alone successfully reversed approximately 3,957 overdoses by administering naloxone. This number would only increase if more individuals were able to utilize naloxone without fear of civil damages.

I am introducing legislation to provide further immunity to an individual or organization who in good faith acquires and administers naloxone. This legislation, modeled after protections that cover those who administer Automatic External Defibrillators (AED), would be a simple mechanism to apply another lifesaving measure, encouraging individuals who are with someone experiencing a potential overdose to help prevent serious injury or death.

There are documented cases where lifesaving actions were not taken due to fear of arrest. Please join me in helping the fearful bystander become an empowered citizen who can be a part of the increasing number of successful overdose reversals. If you have any questions, please do not hesitate to contact Jessica Luce in my Harrisburg office at (717) 772-4511 or via email at jluce@pahouse.net.



Introduced as HB1377