Bill Introduced to Prescribe Naloxone Alongside Painkillers

A bipartisan bill has been introduced that would encourage doctors to prescribe naloxone, the antidote to opioid overdoses, alongside opioid medications. 

Senators Tim Kaine (D-Va) and Shelley Moore Capito (R-W.Va) have come up with the Coprescribing Saves Lives Act, which will hopefully expand access to the lifesaving naloxone drug. According to Senator Capito, “Families and communities across West Virginia have been affected by the drug abuse epidemic, with our state sadly leading the nation in drug-related overdose deaths” (Kim, 2015). Alongside Kentucky and Nevada, West Virginia has the highest rate of drug-overdose-related deaths. 

This new legislation would “authorize a program to give funding to state health departments to establish coprescribing guidelines, purchase naloxone, and fund training for health professionals and patients” (Kim, 2015). 

Kim, V. (2015). Bipartisan bill introduced to coprescribe naloxone and painkillers. Retrieved from https://www.thefix.com/bipartisan-bill-introduced-co-prescribe-naloxone-and-painkillers