COLUMBUS, Ohio (AP) — Ohio lawmakers are considering a bill
to provide a drug overdose antidote to friends or family members of
addicts without the risk of prosecution.
The legislation is aimed
at reducing the state’s record-high number of fatal overdoses from
heroin and painkillers, now the leading cause of accidental death in
Ohio, surpassing car crashes.
The Senate Medicaid, Health and
Human Services Committee scheduled a possible vote Wednesday on the
measure, which would allow licensed prescribers to provide the drug
naloxone to an addict’s friends or family members.
People
administering the drug would be immune from prosecution as long as they
call 911 immediately before or after giving the antidote and obtained
it through proper channels.
The bill also makes it easier for police and emergency responders to administer naloxone.
Copyright 2014 The Associated Press. All rights
reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or
redistributed.
COLUMBUS, Ohio (AP) — Ohio lawmakers are considering a bill
to provide a drug overdose antidote to friends or family members of
addicts without the risk of prosecution.
The legislation is aimed
at reducing the state’s record-high number of fatal overdoses from
heroin and painkillers, now the leading cause of accidental death in
Ohio, surpassing car crashes.
The Senate Medicaid, Health and
Human Services Committee scheduled a possible vote Wednesday on the
measure, which would allow licensed prescribers to provide the drug
naloxone to an addict’s friends or family members.
People
administering the drug would be immune from prosecution as long as they
call 911 immediately before or after giving the antidote and obtained
it through proper channels.
The bill also makes it easier for police and emergency responders to administer naloxone.
Copyright 2014 The Associated Press. All rights
reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or
redistributed.