Legislation is another step taken by House to address Ohio’s drug problem
COLUMBUS—State Representative Steve Huffman (R-Tipp City) today applauded the passage of House Bill 4 through the Ohio House of Representatives. This legislation works to take further strides in curtailing the opiate drug epidemic in Ohio by expanding access to a life-saving medication.
House Bill 4 expands access to naloxone, a medication used to protect an individual experiencing an opioid-related drug overdose. Naloxone reverses the effects of opioids during an overdose, which can effectively shut down a person’s respiratory system.
“I rose on the House Floor today to recommend the bill’s passage. As an Emergency Medical Physician and a former County Coroner, House Bill 4 is an important piece of legislation that needed to be passed.”
“After working through many incidents in my district involving an opiate-related drug overdose, I believe this bill is a step in the right direction towards solving Ohio’s drug epidemic.”
The bill allows a physician to authorize naloxone to a patient who is at risk of overdosing or to a person who might be able to assist that patient during an opioid-induced overdose. House Bill 4 also requires a physician to have in writing certain protocol for furnishing naloxone. Additionally, pharmacists will have the ability to dispense the medication with this bill’s passage.
As amended in committee, the legislation also now requires the Ohio Department of Health to create a model protocol for naloxone and gives it permission to sell the medication wholesale to law enforcement officials. Health departments will also have the ability to issue naloxone protocols through their medical director or health commissioner.
House Bill 4 passed with bipartisan support on the House floor and it will now head to the Senate for further consideration.
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