OLR Bill Analysis

sSB 1144 (File 540, as amended by Senate "A")*

AN ACT CONCERNING THE PREVENTION OF DEATHS FROM DRUG OVERDOSE

SUMMARY:

This bill allows those licensed health care practitioners who can prescribe an opioid antagonist to prescribe, dispense, or administer it to a drug user in need of intervention without being civilly or criminally liable. Under the bill, an "opioid antagonist" is naloxone hydrochloride or any other similarly acting and equally safe drug approved by the federal Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for treating a drug overdose. By law, physicians and surgeons, physician assistants, dentists, advanced practice registered nurses, and podiatrists may prescribe them.

The bill requires the Department of Public Health (DPH) to publish a report on statewide fatal and nonfatal drug overdoses for at least the past three years. The report must include (1) trends in drug overdose death rates and (2) suggested data collection improvements. DPH must report by January 1, 2004 to the governor and the Public Health committee.

*Senate Amendment "A" eliminates requirements in the original bill that the report (1) include information on interventions that reduce overdoses and (2) a description of other interventions effective in reducing fatal and nonfatal drug overdoses. It also removes a provision in the original bill to "distribute," as well as prescribe, dispense, or administer opioid antagonists.

EFFECTIVE DATE: The reporting provision takes effect July 1, 2003; the provision on administering an opioid antagonist, on October 1, 2003.

BACKGROUND

Opioid Antagonist

Opioid antagonists "sit" on the brain's opioid receptor sites, displacing any opioids (such as heroin), reducing cravings for opiates, and blocking their euphoric and other effects. Some opioid antagonists, like naloxone, when given after a narcotic overdose rapidly reverse the symptoms of overdose.

Legislative History

The Senate referred the bill (File 540) to the Judiciary Committee on April 30. The committee reported the bill favorably without change on May 6.

COMMITTEE ACTION

Public Health Committee

Joint Favorable Substitute

Judiciary Committee

Joint Favorable Report