OVERDOSE-PREVENTION BILL CLEARS SENATE

SANTA FE — The Senate unanimously approved a proposal Sunday that's
part of Gov. Gary Johnson's drug overhaul package.

The measure will remove potential legal barriers for people to administer a
drug that can help prevent deaths from heroin overdoes.

The bill would eliminate civil and criminal liability for an individual who
administers a drug overdose antidote, such as naloxone, under certain
conditions. For example, a person could administer the antidote if they
acted in "good faith" because they thought someone was experiencing a drug
overdose.

The measure also would allow licensed health care professionals to
prescribe naloxone without being subject to civil liability or criminal
prosecution.

"It really will probably save some lives," said Sen. Steve Komadina,
R-Corrales, who is a physician.

Earlier this year, the Health Department supplied syringes of naloxone,
which is known by its trade name "narcan," to Espanola Valley doctors, who
could prescribe the potentially lifesaving drug to addicts or to family
members worried that an addict was at risk for an overdose. The drug does
not produce a high or a sense of euphoria.

Rio Arriba County leads New Mexico in per capita drug-related fatalities.
There were at least 16 drug-overdose deaths last year in the northern New
Mexico county.

The bill, which was sponsored by Sen. Cisco McSorley, D-Albuquerque, goes
to the House for consideration.