Rules and Regulations Pertaining to Opioid Overdose Prevention [R23-1-OPIOID]

Regulation Authority:

RIGL Chapter 23-1

Purpose and Reason:

Establish the procedures for administration of an opioid antagonist to an individual experiencing an opioid overdose

Brief statement of Reason for Finding Imminent Peril:

The Department finds that there is imminent peril to the public health, safety and welfare and that these emergency regulations should be adopted to protect the public health. Specifically the Department finds that: 1. Rhode Island is in the midst of a severe prescription and street-drug overdose crisis. There have been fifty (50) opioid-related deaths since the start of 2014. Many of these deaths are directly related to the use of Fentanyl and Heroin, which are opioids. Legal prescriptions for opioids, particularly oxycdone and hydrocodone, have increased in recent years. 2. Due to the sharp increase of opioid overdose deaths in Rhode Island in 2014, expanded access to Naloxone (Narcan) has become an immediately necessary priority to save lives. Pursuant to the Rhode Island Rules and Regulations Relating to Emergency Medical Services, Naloxone (Narcan) is already considered a standing-order medication that can be administered to individuals for whom the medication is not specifically prescribed in an overdose situation. By expanding upon the success of this existing program, more lives could be saved if Naloxone (Narcan) were available to people with drug addiction, their families and other people and organizations likely to be in a position to assist a person at risk of an opioid-related overdose. 3. Naloxone (Narcan) is sometimes referred to as the drug-overdose antidote, and it counteracts the life-threatening depression of the central nervous system and respiratory system caused by an opioid overdose. If timely administered, Naloxone (Narcan) can prevent overdose deaths. Naloxone has reportedly reversed more than 10,000 overdoses. 4. Under these Regulations, one prescriber is now able to issue a non-patient-specific order to numerous organizations, such as police departments, allowing for increased access to the opioid antagonist Naloxone (Narcan). These Regulations will enable the person who is likely to discover an overdose victim to save their life -- a life that could otherwise be lost if the victim has to wait for an EMT to arrive to administer the Naloxone (Narcan).