Senator Larry Obhof (R–Medina) announced that the Ohio Senate has passed House Bill 170, which seeks to expand the individuals permitted to obtain and administer Narcan (generic: Naloxone), which can reverse the effects of an opioid overdose.
“Ohio is seeing a startling rise in the abuse of opioids, including prescription drugs and heroin,” said Obhof. “This is just one part of the solution, but it is an important step in preventing needless deaths and giving a second chance to those trapped in the cycle of addiction.”
The legislation would give health care professionals the ability to prescribe Narcan to a friend, family member, or other individual in a position to provide assistance to a person believed to be at risk of experiencing an opioid-related overdose. It would also authorize law enforcement and other first-responders to carry Narcan.
House Bill 170 builds upon an initiative enacted by the legislature in 2013. Senate Bill 57, sponsored by Senator Gayle Manning (R–North Ridgeville), established a pilot project in Lorain County to study the impact of giving law enforcement officers the ability to administer Narcan to overdose victims. The pilot project has shown great success and has been credited with saving dozens of lives.
House Bill 170 will now be presented to the governor for his signature.
The Senate also recently gave approval to House Bill 144, which seeks to keep electronic cigarette products out of the hands of minors by applying the same legal prohibitions that are intended to keep children from obtaining tobacco products. Previous law did not prohibit minors from purchasing e-cigarettes.
House Bill 144 is also awaiting the governor’s signature.