Ohio House approves drug-overdose bill

COLUMBUS — The Ohio House signed off on legislation aimed at providing quicker access of a prescription drug used to counter heroin overdoses.

HB 4 passed on a vote of 98-0 today and heads to the Ohio Senate for further consideration.

The legislation focuses on Naloxone, which is sold under the brand name Narcan.

“It instantaneously blocks the effects of an opioid overdose,” said Rep. Jeffrey Rezabek, R-Clayton, a primary co-sponsor of HB 4. “The medication is nonaddictive, and to an unaffected individual, there will be little or no side effect. Simply put, this medication can save lives.”

The bill builds on law changes enacted last year that authorized doctors and other health care professionals to prescribe Naloxone to “a friend, family member or other individual in a position to provide assistance” to known addicts. The earlier bill also enabled law enforcement to obtain quantities of the drug for use when responding to overdoses.