Bill would provide immunity for giving heroin antidote

Nalaxone Narcan
(Creative Commons photo by Punching Judy)

Thirty-three Alaskans died from heroin overdoses last year, a dramatic increase from just five years ago, when only four died. Another 54 Alaskans died of prescription pain-reliever overdoses in 2015.

Some of those deaths may have been prevented through the use of an opioid antidote, which can rapidly reverse overdoses.

Lawmakers are weighing a bill to make it easier for overdose victims to get the life-saving drug naloxone.

Some doctors feel comfortable prescribing naloxone. But others are wary of facing lawsuits related to drug overdoses.

That’s why state lawmakers are considering Senate Bill 23, which would provide civil immunity to doctors who prescribe naloxone, also known by the brand name Narcan.

Family members of overdose victims are urging legislators to act.

Juneau resident Gary Miller’s daughter died last May from an overdose after taking heroin.

Juneau resident Gary Miller, whose daughter died from a heroin overdose, testifies before the Alaska House Health and Social Services Committee, January 26, 2016. He was showing his support for Senate Bill 23 which would provide immunity for prescribing, providing, or administering opioid overdose drugs. (Photo by Skip Gray/360 North)
Juneau resident Gary Miller, whose daughter died from a heroin overdose, testifies in the Alaska House Health & Social Services Committee on Tuesday. He was supporting Senate Bill 23, which would provide immunity for prescribing, providing and administering opioid overdose drugs. (Photo by Skip Gray/360 North)

“I kept asking myself, what if I had done this, or what if I’d done that. Would she still be alive today?” Miller said during a hearing on the bill. “I finally had to stop doing that. I was driving myself insane doing that. But I can ask what would happen if this bill passes. There’ll be other parents who don’t have to go through what my wife and I went through. There’ll be other drug users who will get another chance at life.”

The bill would also give immunity to pharmacists who provide the medication, and people trained to administer it to overdose victims.

But bill sponsor Sen. Johnny Ellis, a Democrat from Anchorage, is considering widening the immunity to cover more people who could help overdose victims.

Naloxone can be injected easily into a person’s muscles. The federal Food and Drug Administration also approved a nasal spray form in November.

Naloxone is considered safe, which is one reason advocates for the bill want it to be widely available.

Christina Love is an advocate at Aiding Women in Abuse and Rape Emergencies, a shelter in Juneau. She said the legislature should act immediately.

Christina Love, a Recovery Coach from Juneau, testifies before the Alaska House Health and Social Services Committee, January 26, 2016. She voiced her support for Senate Bill 23 which would provide immunity for prescribing, providing, or administering opioid overdose drugs. (Photo by Skip Gray/360 North)
Christina Love, a recovery coach from Juneau, testifies in support of Senate Bill 23. (Photo by Skip Gray/360 North)

“Expanded access to this life-saving drug would send a statement to the public: We are worth it, and every life matters,” Love said. “The only side effect of this drug is life. I can’t help but think if this bill would have been passed last year how many precious lives would still be with us.”

The bill also allows doctors to prescribe what’s known as a standing order to a pharmacy. This would allow the person who’s been prescribed the drug, a family member, or friend to pick up a prescription.

Dr. Jay Butler, the state’s chief medical officer, noted that in Rhode Island, pharmacies can dispense naloxone prescriptions to anyone who needs them.

Rep. Paul Seaton, a Homer Republican, encouraged Butler to do something similar in Alaska.

“The goal of everybody is to make sure that we have something safe and effective and available throughout the state, not just dependent on what … a local doctor and a local pharmacist would do,” Seaton said.

The Senate passed the bill 19-1 last April. The House Health & Social Services Committee recently held a hearing on the bill. The committee is scheduled to discuss the bill again on Thursday, and potentially vote on it.

Bill sponsor Ellis praised Seaton, the chairman of the committee, for focusing on a bill sponsored by a member of the other party.

“Rep. Seaton, to his credit, and his committee realize that this isn’t about normal procedure, or partisan politics,” Ellis said. “It’s a life-or-death, literally, a life-or-death situation.”

Ellis is hopeful the House will pass the bill and Gov. Bill Walker will sign it before the legislative session ends.

Andrew Kitchenman

State Government Reporter, Alaska Public Media & KTOO

State government plays an outsized role in the life of Alaskans. As the state continues to go through the painful process of deciding what its priorities are, I bring Alaskans to the scene of a government in transition.

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