Florida Legislature passes expanded access to overdose treatment drug

Florida lawmakers approved a medication that could save lives during a drug overdose, with a bill now awaiting Gov. Rick Scott’s signature.

On Tuesday, the Legislature passed SB 758/HB 751, known as the Emergency Treatment for Opioid Overdose Act, which increases availability of Naloxone, a drug that immediately reverses effects of opioids — prescription painkillers, heroin and the like — in the event of an overdose.

According to the Centers for Disease Control (CDC), 44,000 people lost their lives to drug overdose in 2013. Naloxone is an FDA-approved non-addictive medication that experts say saved more than 10,000 lives in the U.S. over the past decade.

Florida now joins twenty-nine states and the District of Columbia that implemented a law or developed a pilot program to allow the use of Naloxone.

Republicans Sen. Greg Evers from Pensacola, Rep. Julio Gonzalez from Venice and Rep. Doc Renuart from Ponte Vedra Beach sponsored the Act. Gonzales and Renuart are both physicians.

Co-sponsors include Reps. Frank Artiles, Colleen Burton, Fred Costello, Katie Edwards, Kristin Jacobs, Ray Pilon, Jake Rabrun, Patrick Rooney, Greg Steube, and Charles Van Zant.

“This legislation will ensure that the life-saving medication … is always in the hands of healthcare professionals and emergency personnel so we can begin curbing the overdose death rate in Florida and be a leader in these policy matters,” Gonzalez said in a statement.

The bill allows first responders to possess, store, and administer Naloxone. Persons acting under a “standing order” issued by a health care professional will be able to store the opioid antagonist.

Shatterproof: Stronger than Addiction is a national organization to protect children from addiction while ending the stigma. The group worked with lawmakers, advocacy organizations, Florida families, and victims of addiction on the Act, as well as other reforms to help end the disease of addiction and decrease drug overdoses in Florida.

“Shatterproof commends the Florida Legislature for their work to pass legislation that will ultimately save lives in Florida,” said Shatterproof founder Gary Mendell.

Florida faces a severe addiction epidemic, Mendell added, as nation’s 11th-highest in drug-overdose mortality rate, a problem affecting almost every family and community. He applauded legislators who “have hearts big enough to allow for a second chance.”