Opioid Overdose Prevention
On June 10, 2010, Washington state enacted the “911 Good Samaritan” law (ESB 5516), which provides immunity from drug possession charges in drug overdose situations and expands access to naloxone, a prescription drug that reverses overdoses caused by opioids. The law authorizes any person to obtain and use naloxone, given the fulfillment of certain requirements, and authorizes any person to administer naloxone to a qualifying third party.
Tulalip Clinical Pharmacy is driven to raise awareness around naloxone and to increase access to this potentially life-saving medication. In 2015, Tulalip Clinical Pharmacy established a drug protocol to distribute naloxone, an emergency medication that will reverse opioid-induced overdoses. Our pharmacy staff, in conjunction with the Tulalip Chemical Dependency/Behavioral Health teams, organized outreach events to educate and train on the proper usage of naloxone kit in the event of an opioid overdose. In addition to distributing naloxone directly to patients and their family members, Tulalip Clinical pharmacy also supplied naloxone kits and provided training to other health care providers, fish and wild life staff, and local first responder teams.
We realize the urgency of the opioid epidemic and are committed to work with all involved parties as a united front against the opioid epidemic.
Below is a link to an interview of Gina Skinner of Family Services, Jane Jacobson from the Tulalip Pharmacy, and community activist Rico Jones Fernandez discussing the epidemic of opiate addiction, the Good Samaritan Law, and the use of the overdose antidote Narcan (naloxone).
http://www.tulaliptv.com/slexhil-narcan/