As California attempts to tackle its fentanyl crisis, two new laws will be taking effect in January that will make drugs that reverse the effects of opioid overdoses easier to access in certain places and updates the so-called good Samaritan law to include those who administer anti-overdose medication.
Opioid antagonists such as naloxone are administered to people suspected of overdosing. Naloxone — known mostly by the commercial nasal spray container that administrates it called Narcan — binds to opioid receptors in the body and blocks the effects of drugs like heroin, morphine, oxycodone and fentanyl.
According to a 2020 report from the California Department of Public Health, overdoses have surpassed car accidents as the leading cause of unintentional injury leading to death in the U.S.
Assembly Bill 234 was introduced by state Sen. Anthony Portantino, D-Burbank, and makes naloxone available in places accessed by age groups that are at higher risk of overdose. Stadiums, concert venues, and amusement parks will now be required to have unexpired doses of naloxone on site at all times, with at least two employees aware of their location.
According to Portantino, an earlier version of his bill included public school campuses, but the governor included that provision into the 2023 adopted budget instead.
Another new law expands protections for people who intervene in a suspected overdose and administer an opioid antagonist.
Assembly Bill 1166 updates the state’s good Samaritan law, which says that any person who, in good faith and not for compensation, renders emergency medical care at the scene of an emergency cannot be sued due to an “act or omission” beyond gross or willful negligence or misconduct. This new law adds opiate overdoses to the mix, shielding anyone who administers Narcan from liability in most cases.
AB 1166 was introduced by Jasmeet Bains, D-Delano, who is also behind Assembly Bill 33, which created a fentanyl task force in the state. The Fentanyl Misuse and Overdose Prevention Task Force will collect data on fentanyl use and misuse in the state, provide outreach and education on the problem, and report its findings to the governor and the Legislature by the end of 2025.
11 comments
We had a CPR class at work and the instructor said that everyone should carry Narcan, in case we come across someone who is overdosing on opiates. I got some immediately.
Well, good for you. I am not going to stand in the way of someone with no value offing themselves. And I am not going to be assaulted for trying to help someone (as can happen after administration).
There was that one vid of the police officer who got, for lack of a better term, a contact high from the fentanyl, and needed naloxone administered. Definitely had breathing issues, and if I recall correctly, was dangerously tachycardic. Nice that lax enforcement of not only border laws but vagrancy and illicit drug dealing and using continue, so that we taxpayers can now also pay for an emergency use antagonists to help chronic drug abusers.
@Jeff (the other one) – Medical doctors who looked at that video said that the cop shows all the signs of fainting. He was so afraid of being anywhere near suspected drugs that he fainted. He definitely did not show any signs of having been affected by fentanyl or any narcotics. The video had been sent around by the sheriff who was claiming police work was so dangerous and look here, just seeing something in the trunk of a car caused the cop to drop stone cold out for the count.
The one I saw was a female officer. Not sure it was due to being afraid of being near anyone or not. Still remains that lax enforcement at the border and on our streets has led to a significant increase of the drug out there, and now we taxpayers get to foot yet another bill to deal with the issues.
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DNR = Do Not Resuscitate
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Hmm, what would our streets look like if Prop 47 had never happened ? ? ? ?
Shows level of government incompetence, their easier softer way is Narcan.
Call addiction what it is a slow form of suicide, nasal spray brings them back so they can do it again.
There’s more to being a public servant than lunches with lobbyists.
If politicians can’t figure it out, vote ’em out of office until you get competent and capable of coming up with solutions.
Seems like a tiny little pinky bandaid for gushing wounds where limbs have been blown off.
Close the border.
Was at a local ER last Summer; they had a sign for free Narcan; no questions asked.
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@ 3 weeks later; my loved one who had 4 bypasses was released with a limited narcotic pain reliever. With it came 2 doses of Narcan. I asked the Pharmacist, who said their Risk Management Unit was requiring it with every narco Rx; no additional charge.
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So, I have 2 doses of the stuff with a good shelf life date. Tried to donate it, but no place will take it because they cannot be sure of its integrity…. I’ll dump it in one of those drug bins at the pharmacy next time I go.
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ps: this a 3 cups of coffee type post.
🙂
Any Bills written to reduce the flow of the drug to the marginalized communities?
all bull
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