Legislation designed to curb the number
of drug overdose deaths in West
Virginia moved through the House Health and Human
Resources Committee on Thursday.
The bill (HB 2009) increases the
availability of the the drug naloxone, an opioid antagonist that reverses the
effects of narcotics. The bill would allow first responders to possess and
administer naloxone while also setting guidelines for doctors to prescribe the
drug.
The vote was unanimous.
Dr. Rahul Gupta, commissioner of
the state Bureau of Public Health, spoke to the committee in favor of the bill:
“First responders get to the site
and see that somebody is perhaps overdosed, and they are able to administer
this drug immediately and buy time for that person to get to the appropriate
healthcare facility.”
Officials claim West Virginia has a serious drug problem,
particularly with stronger opioids such as heroin and prescription pain
killers. Health statistics show the number of overdose deaths in the state has
risen from 360 in 2009 to 460 in 2013.
Gupta said the expanded use of naloxone will “help save lives
when overdoses do occur.”