Washington's "911 Good Samaritan Law" expands access to Narcan™ (naloxone), a prescription drug that blocks the effects of heroin and other opioids. According to the law, anyone at risk for having an overdose or witnessing one can be prescribed Narcan; they are also allowed to administer Narcan to a person believed to have had an overdose. Narcan is not yet widely available by prescription or through distribution programs in Washington, but state and local public health officials are working to expand availability.
Narcan FAQs on
StopOverdose.org
In Massachusetts, Narcan has been used to reverse more than 1,000 opiate overdoses in the past four years, according to the Boston Globe. Officials in the state say the drug’s success in reversing overdoses is due to a pilot program in 12 cities. The program allows substance abuse treatment centers to show people addicted to opioids, as well as their family and friends, how to use Narcan. In less than four years, eight pilot sites have enrolled more than 10,000 people in the Narcan program, according to a news release issued by Massachusetts Governor Deval Patrick. Massachusetts lawmakers are working towards passage of a 911 Good Samaritan Law.
