Requires certain entities to stock opioid antagonists and to store naloxone nasal sprays with or adjacent to automated external defibrillator cabinets

• Democratic16
• Republican8

◆ The sponsor's argument

Why Nathalia Fernandez says this is needed

The United States is in the midst of a devastating opioid epidemic With opioid overdose deaths due to prescription opioids, heroin, and other synthetic opioids (e.g., fentanyl) at an all-time high. According to the Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), opioids were involved in 80,411 overdose deaths in 2021, which accounts for nearly 75W of all drug overdose deaths. Veterans are particularly vulnerable compared to non-Veterans, given their higher prevalence of chronic pain conditions and substance use disorders, including opioid dependence. Naloxone (Narcan) and other opioid antagonists work to rapidly reverse an opioid overdose by attaching to opioid receptors and reversing and blocking the effects of opioid drugs. This quickly restores normal breathing and wakes the individual from an overdose. It is important to note that if naloxone and other opioid drugs are given to someone who does not have opioids in their system, these opioid antagonists will have no adverse health consequences on that individual. In 2021, roughly 1.2 million doses of naloxone were dispensed by retail pharmacies, and nearly all states have naloxone access laws that allow pharmacists and/or qualified organizations to provide the medication without a prescription. In nearly 40k of deaths resulting from a drug overdose, a bystander was present. Making naloxone consistently avail- able in the same location would allow bystanders to easily locate opioid overdose reversal medications and help prevent a fatal overdose. Evidence shows that states that have adopted expanded naloxone access laws, have seen fatal opioid overdoses fall by an average of 27W46W. Naloxone supply needs to be more prevalent and accessible to help reduce opioid overdose deaths and save lives across the United States. This legislation would help make naloxone and other opioid antagonists readily accessible by storing the medicine in automated external defi- brillator (AED) cabinets and would provide the consistency needed for bystanders to know exactly where to find it.

This is the sponsor's own case for the bill, quoted from their memorandum. It is not Agora's description of what the bill does.