New York State Overdose Prevention Bill Waits on Governor Cuomo's Signature

Noloxone's a medication that reverses the effects of opiods like heroin and many prescription drugs.  It's been used in New York to stop overdoses since 2006. 

But Dr. Sharon Stancliff says state law makes doing so on site an obstacle. She's with the Harm Reduction Coalition.  And she says the law requires a medical provider to be present when the drug's distributed.

"This is a huge barrier for needle exchanges, for getting this to the parents of people that are using drugs, for many people," she said. "Prescribers are more expensive; and our time is in demand."

Stancliff says the bill would allow anyone with training to handle the drug. 

"One thing we want to do is make sure that person who's overdosing right now does not die," she said.  "And we also should be working harder to make treatment more accessible to people that need it."

State Senator Kemp Hannon says the use of prescription drugs and circulation of cheap heroin throughout the state have increased dramatically over the past decade.  He says the bill is an important first step.

"This bill is part of the arsenal of addressing it," he said.  "It doesn't solve the problem, it doesn't do rehab; but it does save lives." 

Senator Hannon says if the bill passes, the next step would be to outline regulations with the Department of Health and get Noloxone into pharmacies.