Georgia Council on Substance Abuse Strongly Supports HB 474: Co-Prescription of Opioid Antagonist for High Risk Patients
The Georgia Council on Substance Abuse and Georgia Overdose Prevention strongly support HB 474, introduced by Representative Sharon Cooper. We support a full Committee hearing and call on the General Assembly to support this life saving legislation with a unanimous bi-partisan vote.
- HB 474 is a public health measure that provides education and access to opioid antagonist for people who are prescribed a high-dose opioid
- HB 474 requires that when prescribers offer a high dose of opioids, opioids in conjunction with a benzodiazepine, or to patients at high-risk of overdose, they must offer patients a co-prescription of an opioid antagonist.
- HB 474 requires providers to give education on the prevention of overdoses and the use of opioid antagonist, ensuring patients are more knowledgeable about these powerful drugs, and have the information they need.
Drug overdose is the leading cause of accidental death in the United States, with opioids being the most common drug. “HB 474 is a public health measure that requires providers to educate patients on the risks of opioids and to offer a co-prescription of an opioid antagonist (such as naloxone) that temporarily counteracts the effects of an overdose,” said Neil Campbell, Executive Director of the Georgia Council on Substance Abuse.
“Dr. Kathleen E. Toomey and the Georgia Department of Public Health have determined that the number one medical issue involving admissions to Emergency Departments in Georgia, during COVID-19, are issues associated with overdoses. Over 81,000 drug overdose deaths occurred in the United States in the 12 months ending in May 2020, the highest number of overdose deaths ever recorded in a 12-month period, according to recent provisional data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention,” said, Campbell.
“Too often, an opioid antagonist is not in the right hands at the right time. Co-prescription ensures an opioid antagonist is easily accessible for those at risk of overdose. The people of Georgia are dying, every day. Nothing is killing people in Georgia more than overdoses – except COVID-19,” said Jeff Breedlove, Chief of Policy and Communication for the Georgia Council on Substance Abuse.
“Georgia families can’t wait for the special interests to negotiate. The people of Georgia can’t wait until next Session. Now is the time for the General Assembly to step up, stand with the taxpayers of Georgia and ensure this important issue has the force of law behind it,” said Breedlove.
