ALBANY, NY (Erie News Now)-- A new law in New York intends to COMBAT THE OPIOID AND OVERDOSE EPIDEMIC BY ALLOWING PHARMACIES AND HEALTH CARE PROVIDERS TO PROVIDE FREE FENTANYL TESTING STRIPS.  

SOME LAWMAKERS EMPHASIZE THESE TESTING STRIPS THAT CAN DETECT fEnTANYL IN DIFFERENT NARCOTICS ARE WIDELY INACCESSIBLE ACROSS THE STATE.  

THIS NEW law AIMS TO CHANGE THIS ESPECIALLY FOR INDIVIDUALS STRUGGLING WITH SUBSTANCE ADDICTIONS SUCH AS OPIOIDS.  

“The truth of the matter is when people are struggling with substance use disorder they don’t usually worry about their source of supply of their medication, of their drugs and the truth of the matter is a lot of those drugs can have adulterants in it that are fatal,” said Assembly Member John McDonald (D-Assembly District 108).

THE LEGISLATION IS NAMED AFTER MATTHEW HORAN, A NEW YORK RESIDENT WHO DIED FROM AN OVERDOSE IN 2020 AFTER INgESTING FENTANYL UNKNOWINGLY.  

“It’s named in his honor but he’s unfortunately not the only person whose succumb to this disease,” said McDonald.

ACCORDING TO THE CENTER FOR DISEASE CONTROL, MORE THAN 150 PEOPLE DIE EVERYDAY NATIONWIDE FROM OVERDOSES RELATED TO SYNTHETIC OPIOIDS LIKE FENTANYL.  

SOME EXPERTS SAid THERE ARE MORE STEPS NEEDED TO COMBAT FENTANYL OVERDOSES SUCH AS SUPPLYING OPVEE, AN OVERDOSE REVERSAL NASAL SPRAY RECENTLY APPROVED BY THE UNITED STATES FOOD AND DRUG ADMINISTRATION.  

 

“It’s important that as the crisis evolves, we evolve with it and that includes making sure everyone has access to all the tools in the harm reduction tool kit and that includes OPVEE,” said Dr. Jerome Adams, MD, former U.S. Surgeon General.

OPVEE is available via standing orders in 26 states, including New Jersey. it is not yet available in New York.