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Bill eliminates need for Narcan prescription

Posted at 8:40 PM, Feb 02, 2016
and last updated 2016-02-02 20:40:08-05

INDIANAPOLIS -- A bill to expand the availability of the live-saving overdose drug Narcan sailed through the Indiana Senate and is now off to the House. 

Last year, lawmakers passed Aaron's Law, which allowed for the heroin antidote, Narcan, to be sold in drug stores with a prescription and available to families to prevent overdose deaths. 

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The bill is named for Justin Phillip's son, Aaron Sims, who died from a heroin overdose in 2013.

Lawmakers are amending the bill to allow more people access to Narcan. 

Supporters say that last year, more than 1,100 lives were saved by Indianapolis EMS administering Narcan and that 14 people have been saved this year. 

Senate Bill 187 would require the State Department of Health to issue a standing order for overdose intervention drugs, like Narcan, to be sold without a prescription. 

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"It removes the barrier. There's still a challenge for families to go to a doctor and admit that a loved one is struggling with this addiction, can you please help me? So eliminating that conversation will help families," Justin Phillips said. 

Lawmakers supporting the measure say that Indiana is a target for drug dealers, which has increased the number of overdoses the last two years, increasing the need for Narcan's accessibility at a pharmacy without a prescription. 

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