State House Approves Expanding Tools to Prevent Overdose Deaths

The state House recently approved legislation that would expand Good Samaritan protections for the use of new opioid overdose reversal drugs in advance of their anticipated approval by the United States Food and Drug Administration (FDA).

In 2014, the General Assembly passed Act 139, providing Good Samaritan immunity to those who administer naloxone, commonly known by its trade name, Narcan. “Next generation” opioid reversal drugs will likely soon receive FDA approval. House Bill 2527 would expand Act 139 to include protections for use of the new reversal drugs as well.

In a four-year period ending in January, the PA Department of Health reports more than 67,000 doses of Narcan have been administered by EMS with still tens of thousands more administered by others. Its broad distribution has no doubt saved countless lives.

House Bill 2527 now moves to the Senate for consideration.