Post by Logan on Jan 28, 2016 1:59:40 GMT -6
“Oftentimes, we say certain bills or resolutions aren’t life or death, but in this case, it is life or death.”
So began Sen. Johnny Ellis, D-Anchorage, on Tuesday afternoon. Ellis, speaking before the Alaska House’s Health and Social Services committee, is promoting Senate Bill 23, which would legally shield anyone who gives an overdose-preventing medication to someone who is overdosing on heroin or opioid painkillers.
It’s not a niche problem.
“This is basically a national epidemic,” explained Daniel Nelson, president of the Alaska Pharmacists Association, in testimony to the committee.
Dr. Jay Butler, the state’s chief medical officer, testified that last year, 54 Alaskans died of opioid painkiller overdoses, and another 34 died of heroin overdoses. Eight of those deaths were in Juneau. The figures are rising, in part because of the overprescription of opioid painkillers, which are derived from the opium poppy and can be addictive. Hooked on painkillers, Alaskans (and Americans nationwide) turn to heroin as an alternative. Last year, Ellis testified, more young people died in Anchorage from heroin overdoses than traffic accidents.
Read more: juneauempire.com/state/2016-01-27/house-committee-shield-those-who-help-overdose-victims
So began Sen. Johnny Ellis, D-Anchorage, on Tuesday afternoon. Ellis, speaking before the Alaska House’s Health and Social Services committee, is promoting Senate Bill 23, which would legally shield anyone who gives an overdose-preventing medication to someone who is overdosing on heroin or opioid painkillers.
It’s not a niche problem.
“This is basically a national epidemic,” explained Daniel Nelson, president of the Alaska Pharmacists Association, in testimony to the committee.
Dr. Jay Butler, the state’s chief medical officer, testified that last year, 54 Alaskans died of opioid painkiller overdoses, and another 34 died of heroin overdoses. Eight of those deaths were in Juneau. The figures are rising, in part because of the overprescription of opioid painkillers, which are derived from the opium poppy and can be addictive. Hooked on painkillers, Alaskans (and Americans nationwide) turn to heroin as an alternative. Last year, Ellis testified, more young people died in Anchorage from heroin overdoses than traffic accidents.
Read more: juneauempire.com/state/2016-01-27/house-committee-shield-those-who-help-overdose-victims