City officials will ‘take action’ on overdose antidote access
With state's EMT waiver in place, threat of legal liability lifted
City officials will consider placing the anti-heroin-overdose drug Naloxone in the hands of Asbury Park first responders now that Emergency Medical Technicians have been given the go-ahead to administer the medicine without threat of legal ramifications.
“The City Administration has never been opposed to this program and was awaiting the green light that we would not be held liable,” said Mayor Myra Campbell. “With that cleared up I anticipate council will take action either at this week’s meeting or the first meeting in April.”
“My main concern was the statue had a small snag in it that protected anyone from liability when administering it except for Emergency Medical Technicians,” said Councilman John Moor. “It seems like the state has resolved that snag, which removes my concern.”
Governor Christie Friday signed a waiver that allows EMTs who have been trained to administer drug, which reverses the effects of opioids. A waiver was required because the New Jersey Overdose Prevention Act, signed into law last year, did not specifically grant EMTs the power to do so.
OPA provides immunity from civil and criminal prosecution to those who witness heroin overdoses thereby encouraging them to report when overdoses happen, and gives greater access of Naloxone to non-medical personnel without fear of legal repercussion, Roseanne Scotti, state director for the Drug Policy Alliance, previously told the Sun.
Asbury Park resident Randy Thomson has led the charge to see the drug put in the hands of first responders.
“It is very exciting to see the issue take root and begin to come to fruition here in Asbury Park where it is sorely needed,” Thomson said. “Equipping our first responders with Naloxone will certainly save lives and reduce harm.”
Thompson helped organize a recent Naloxone training hosted by the South Jersey AIDS alliance held at Project REAL, Asbury Park’s LGBT youth drop-in center. About 20 area residents were trained to administer the potentially life-saving drug and went home with a kit that contained injectable doses of the drug [shown above].
“The city should start immediately in training the first responders how to properly administer this life-saving [drug],” Moor said. In my humble opinion failure to do so would be irresponsible. This procedure could save a life and failing to get it up and running as quick as possible would be unacceptable to me, because it might lead to a tragic result.”
A 2012 study published by the New Jersey department of Human Services Division of Mental Health and Addiction Services shows Asbury Park [147] residents came in fifth highest in terms of the number of substance abusers admitted to treatment centers for heroin abuse. The top four before it were Middletown [255], Howell [195], Keansburg [187] and Marlboro [177].
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