Governor
Wolf Announces $5 Million Funding for Naloxone to First Responders
Details at 2 p.m. press
event with DDAP, PCCD, Health
Harrisburg,
Pa. – Governor
Wolf today announced that his 2017-18 budget will include $5 million to provide
naloxone to first responders in Pennsylvania. Details of the application
process and benefits of naloxone will be provided at a press conference at 2
p.m. today in the Capitol Reception Room with representatives of the
departments of Drug and Alcohol Programs (DDAP), Health (DOH), and the
Pennsylvania Commission on Crime and Delinquency (PCCD).
“Naloxone, a
life-saving medication, is making a difference in the heroin and opioid
epidemic in Pennsylvania and why I included funding for it in my 2017-18
budget,” Governor Wolf said. “This program will create a fast, efficient means
of getting these life-saving kits in the hands of first responders; those
people on the front line of the epidemic, and responsible not only for saving
lives, but getting people into treatment via the warm handoff program, and
ultimately into recovery.”
More than
60,000 Naloxone kits, which include two, 4-milligram doses in each, will be
available to all 67 counties over a two-year period using the funding. The kits
are supplied by Adapt Pharma, headquartered in Radnor.
“Pennsylvania
continues to lead the way in improving awareness and access to this potentially
life-saving medication,” said Mike Kelly, President, U.S. Operations, Adapt
Pharma. “We applaud Governor Wolf’s commitment to this initiative as well as
the commonwealth’s broader initiatives to address this epidemic.”
PCCD is
releasing a request for applications to support the provision of intranasal
naloxone kits to first responders today. NARCAN®(naloxone HCI) Nasal Spray is
needle-free and does not require assembly. It’s designed for ease of use for
nonmedical personnel.
One main point-of-contact
for each county or region will be identified to coordinate the process of
getting the kits into the hands of first responders. That point-of-contact will
be responsible for identifying first responder needs for naloxone within that
county or region.
The Wolf
Administration’s Physician General and Acting Secretary for DOH Dr. Rachel
Levine issued a standing order for naloxone in April of this year. Since that
time, more than 3,900 lives have been saved with
naloxone. In addition, the Gov. Wolf and state agencies have been increasing
efforts in the heroin and opioid epidemic fight in multiple additional areas,
including numerous programs and initiatives:
- Working with the legislature to establish a new law
limiting the number of opioids that can be prescribed to a minor and to
individuals discharged from emergency rooms to seven days;
- Strengthening the Prescription Drug Monitoring Program
(PDMP) through the legislative process so that doctors are required and
able to check the system each time they prescribe opioids and
benzodiazepines. To date, there have been more than 12 million patient
searches made on the system;
- Forming new prescribing guidelines to help doctors who
provide opioid prescriptions to their patients, including guidelines
specific to orthopedics and sports medicine;
- Creating the warm handoff guideline to facilitate referrals
from the emergency department to substance abuse treatment;
- Teaming with the legislature to establish education
curriculum on safe prescribing for medical schools;
- Educating and encouraging patients to properly use,
store and dispose of unused prescription medications through drug
take-back initiatives, and expanding the number of drug take-back
locations to nearly 700.
For more
information on the standing order for naloxone, visit the Department of Health’s website. For more information
about the naloxone application process, visit the Pennsylvania Commission on Crime and
Delinquency’s website
MEDIA
CONTACT:
J.J. Abbott, 717-783-1116
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