Report by Paula Antolini
February 23, 2017 4:53PM EDT
Learn How to Respond to an Overdose Using Narcan with Rep. Duff & Other Newtown Legislators
NEWTOWN- State Representatives Will Duff (R-2), Mitch Bolinsky (R-106), J.P. Sredzinski (R-112) and State Senator Tony Hwang (R-28) are inviting interested Newtown residents to a training session and demonstration on how to acquire and administer Narcan and discuss legislative efforts and other resources to combat the opioid crisis.
The Newtown Prevention Council, the Newtown Volunteer Ambulance Corps and Newtown Parent Connection are co-sponsoring the event with the Newtown legislative delegation. The forum is called How to Respond to an Overdose: Narcan Information and Training Session.
Here are the details of the forum:
- Thursday, March 9th
- 6:00 PM – 8:00 PM
- Cyrenius H. Booth Library
- 25 Main Street, Newtown
Join us for a training session and demonstration on how to acquire and administer Narcan and discuss legislative efforts and other resources to combat the opioid crisis.
This event is open to the public.
For more information, please contact Senator Hwang at 800-842-1421, Tony.Hwang@cga.ct.gov or Representatives Bolinsky, Duff and Sredzinski at 800-842-1423 • Mitch.Bolinsky@housegop.ct.gov, JP.Sredzinski@housegop.ct.gov, William.Duff@housegop.ct.gov.
Here is a brief General Assembly legislative history of Narcan in the state:
In 2011, a “good Samaritan law” was passed in an attempt to address people’s unwillingness to call 911 for an overdose situation. This law protects people who call 911 seeking emergency medical services for an overdose from arrest for possession of drugs/paraphernalia. The law limits protection to this situation. It doesn’t protect someone from other charges or stop the police from serving a search or arrest warrant if that was already in process.
The 2012 narcan law allows prescribers (physicians, surgeons, Physicians’ Assistants, APRNs, dentists, and podiatrists) to prescribe, dispense or administer narcan to any person to prevent or treat a drug overdose and the prescriber is protected from civil liability and criminal prosecution.
In 2014, protection from civil liability and criminal prosecution was extended to the person administering the narcan in response to an overdose.
The 2015 legislation allows pharmacists who have been trained/certified to prescribe and dispense narcan directly to customers requesting it. The pharmacist is required to educate the person on how to use the narcan. The law also requires one hour of continuing education for physicians, PAs (Physicians’ Assistants), APRNs (Advanced Practice Registered Nurses) and Dentists in a risk management topic that includes prescribing controlled substances and pain management. Prescribers are required to check the electronic Connecticut Prescription. Monitoring and Reporting System (CPMRS) before prescribing greater than a 72 hour supply of a controlled substance and, for those persons prescribed opiates long-term, at least every 90 days.
In 2016, PA 16-43, An Act Concerning Opioids and Access to Overdose Reversal Drugs was passed in 2016. It includes the following:
A 7-day limit on opioid prescriptions which applies only to the first outpatient prescription for adults, but always applies to minors. In the case of minors, the prescriber is required to discuss the risks of opioids with them and their parent/caregiver, if they are present. Exceptions to this 7-day limit can be made if the prescriber believes its warranted and documents the reason in the medical record, including why an alternative was not appropriate (effective July 1, 2016)
Licensed health care professionals (LHCPs) are allowed to administer naloxone without fear of civil liability, criminal prosecution, or violating standards of their profession (effective from passage.)
Each municipality must ensure that their designated first responder(s) are trained on and equipped with naloxone and that their emergency medical services plan is revised to reflect this by October 1, 2016.
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