Opioid addictions are increasing across the state.
In an effort to help combat opioid overdoses, the House and Senate have agreed to SF 2218, to ensure that first responders and persons in a position to help will have access to a drug that can delay the effects of an opioid overdose long enough to get the victim necessary help.
Senate File 2218 authorizes first responders to possess and administer an opioid antagonist to victims of a drug overdose.
The bill also allows a person who is in a position to help the ability to obtain an opioid antagonist and administer it to a drug overdose victim. Opioid antagonists are drugs that prevent the body from responding to opioids, thus delaying an overdose and allowing time for the victim to receive help.
According to the Governor’s Office of Drug Control Policy, opioid abuse is one of the fastest growing forms of substance abuse in the United States and Iowa.
These addictions often start off simple, a patient is prescribed an opioid based pain killer. As the pain subsides sometimes the usage does not, and in fact may increase.
Patients may be able to obtain these pain killers from doctors, but eventually may have to find other sources, including resorting to using heroine to continue their addiction.
People who are addicted to opioid pain killers are 40 times more likely to be addicted to heroin, which is also a type of opioid. Heroin has a high risk of overdoes and death for users.
Combating prescription drug and heroine abuse is a large task. Giving first responders and others access to opioid antagonists will allow overdoes victims more time to receive the necessary help and hopefully reduce deaths related to these drugs.
The bill is currently headed to the governor’s desk, where he is expected to sign it. First responders and others will be able to obtain opioid antagonists later in the year.