From OhioMHAS News Now, in case you missed it:
The Ohio Senate this week unanimously passed a measure to expand access to naloxone. Distributed under the brand name Narcan, naloxone is administered intranassally to reverse the effects of an opiate overdose. House Bill 170 would increase accessibility to Narcan for those in a position to help overdose victims, including law enforcement, emergency medical responders and friends and relatives. The legislation builds on a Lorain County pilot program sponsored by Sen. Gayle Manning (R-North Ridgeville) in 2013, as well as the Ohio Department of Health’s Project DAWN (Deaths Avoided With Naloxone.) In Lorain County alone, 25 lives have been saved since law enforcement and emergency responders began using Narcan.
Recently, the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) issued an advisory to the treatment community warning of a marked increase in deaths reportedly linked to the use of heroin contaminated with the drug fentanyl. Fentanyl is a form of opioid, and when used in combination with heroin, can cause severe injury and even death. SAMHSA’s advisory requests that treatment providers alert their patients and community stakeholders to be alert to the increased risk of a fatal overdose and urges individuals to seek treatment. SAMHSA recently released an Opioid Overdose Toolkit containing information on recognizing and responding appropriately to overdose – in a manner suitable to a variety of stakeholders.
House Bill 170 returns to the House now for concurrence.