The Akron Legal News

Bill would create pilot program to allow first responders to administer opioid overdose treatment

TIFFANY L. PARKS
Special to the Legal News
Published: May 23, 2013

A proposal to establish a pilot project that would allow qualified emergency responders to offer medical treatment for an opioid-related overdose is winding through a Senate committee.

Senate Bill 57, sponsored by Sen. Gayle Manning, would create a pilot program in Lorain County from Aug. 1 to July 31, 2014 that would authorize certain emergency responders who serve in the county to obtain and administer naloxone in efforts to revive an individual suffering from an apparent opioid overdose.

Naloxone, also known as Narcan, is to be inhaled and has no adverse reactions, even if someone is not overdosing.

“In 2011, 22 people died in Lorain County from overdosing on opioid-related drugs,” said Manning, R-Ridgeville, in sponsor testimony for the bill before the Senate Public Safety, Local Government and Veterans Affairs committee.

“Last year, that number nearly tripled to 60. There is an alarming trend of young people not only in Lorain, but across the state and country who are falling victim to this rising epidemic.”

SB 57 specifies that a licensed health professional, qualified emergency responder, emergency medical service organization, law enforcement agency, firefighting agency or registered nurse who participates in the pilot program, acts in good faith, and does not act with malicious purpose, in bad faith, or in a wanton or reckless manner would not be subject to civil liability for acts committed in compliance with the proposed program.

The measure goes on to state that such emergency responders would not be subject to action by a professional licensing board or criminal prosecution if the conduct of the individual or entity was in compliance with the pilot program.

“By allowing our first responders, including police officers, to administer this drug, it will give medical personnel a larger window to save lives so we can get these people the treatment they need,” Manning said.

Manning said training for the pilot program would be “rather simple” and provided through the Lorain County Coroner’s Office.

According to SB 57, the county coroner would have to provide, or designate one or more licensed health professionals or registered nurses to provide, training to emergency responders in recognizing and responding to an opioid overdose and provide emergency responders who satisfactorily complete the training a letter indicating that completion.

If the proposal is signed into law, emergency medical service organizations, law enforcement agencies and firefighting agencies would have to maintain a record of the receipt and use of naloxone in association with the pilot project.

“Each department that participates will send in a monthly report to the Lorain County Narcan Task Force, as well as the Ohio Department of Health,” Manning said.

“At the cessation of the pilot, data will be compiled and recommendations will be made by both organizations on the effectiveness of the project and whether or not it should expand to other counties.”

The required reports from the task force and the health department would have to be submitted to the governor, legislative leaders and director of the Ohio Department of Alcohol and Drug Addiction Services by Nov. 1, 2014.

At a committee hearing last week, Det. Gregg Mehling of the Lorain County Sheriff’s Office testified in support of creating the pilot program.

“Every day I see the tragic effects of drug usage and addiction in our communities,” said Mehling, who has been a police officer since 1973 and has worked with the Lorain County Drug Task Force for nearly 15 years.

“From the violent crimes perpetrated by persons desperate to get money to feed their drug addiction and, secondly, the numerous premature deaths that are brought about due to an accidental drug overdose. This is not an inner city problem.”

Mehling said the situation has “reached into every Lorain County city and village.”

“We had over 60 drug overdose deaths in Lorain County in 2012, compared to around 20 deaths per year in the preceding five years,” he said. “I have knocked on too many doors and told too many parents, spouses and children that their loved one is never coming home. We have the opportunity to help change that.”

Mehling stressed that naloxone works.

“We in law enforcement and the medical community know that,” he said.

Manning said she was approached by law enforcement and public safety officials in her district to sponsor a bill to create the pilot project “so they could have the necessary tools to continue to serve and protect our citizens to the best of their abilities.”

“I believe this is one of those vital tools,” she said.

SB 57 is co-sponsored by Republican Sens. Shannon Jones, Peggy Lehner, Jim Hughes and Dave Burke.

The bill is scheduled for a third committee hearing today.

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