Homeless in Arizona

I suspect that if Naloxone were readily available that many opiate drug over dose deaths could be prevented.

But don't count on the government for fixing the problem, they are too busy justifying their silly "War on Drugs". And of course throwing people that have problems with opiates in prison, rather then giving them medical help.

Last if drug abuse is a problem, it should be a MEDICAL problem, not a criminal problem.

Source

Letter: Lawmakers could end our painkiller addiction

Trevor Thornburg 7:19 a.m. MST April 11, 2016

Thank you for drawing attention to the current opiate/opioid overdose epidemic in Arizona in the March 2 article “Arizona heroin, prescription drug overdoses escalate.”

A solution that has proven successful in other states is to provide the public and first responders with easy access to Naloxone. Naloxone has no side effects and no potential for abuse. It is an opiate/opioid antagonist which reverses the effects of life-threatening overdoses and provides a window of opportunity for an overdose victim to receive emergency medical attention.

In Arizona, Naloxone is currently only available to hospitals and first responders. There is a bill (HB 2355) currently awaiting a vote in the Arizona Senate that would allow anyone at risk of an overdose from opiates/opioids and their friends and family access to Naloxonenaloxone hydrochloride or any other FDA-approved opioid antagonist with a physician’s recommendation.

Easy access is crucial for preventing overdose deaths since an individual experiencing an overdose cannot administer it to themselves. Readers should call Senate Majority Leader Steve Yarbrough and ask him to support HB 2355.

— Trevor Thornburg, Tucson