Some emergency responders have access to a medicine that can reverse opiate overdoses. A new bill would expand that access to all peace officers.
The bill would offer training to almost all law enforcement personnel on how to use naloxone. The medicine reverses overdoses caused by opiate painkiller medications and heroin. State representative Heather Carter is the chairwoman of the House Health Committee. She introduced the bill.
“As we have been working on this legislation, it has been brought to my attention that there are other people out in the community that may also benefit from this type of statutory permission to administer this drug," Carter said. "But right now we are just starting with step one and I look forward to continuing to work on this issue as we move forward.”
The legislation would also give the first responders legal immunity when they use the prescription medication in an emergency overdose situation.
