Washington State News: Law to Rescue Overdose Victims Goes into Effect

July 7, 2010 9:33 AM

Published in the July 2010 Washington State Board of Pharmacy Newsletter

No. 1045
A new law aimed at saving lives by encouraging people who witness drug overdoses to call 911 went into effect June 10, 2010. The “911 Good Samaritan” law provides immunity from drug possession charges to people who seek medical assistance in drug overdose situations. The law also expands access to naloxone, the drug that reverses overdoses from opiates such as opiate pain medications and heroin within minutes of administration. Naloxone must be prescribed and dispensed as a legend drug. The patient for whom the drug is prescribed may not be known to the pharmacist, but may be a friend or relative of the person obtaining the prescription.