Source: Ohio Department of Health “Directions” publication
Ohio Lt. Governor Mary Taylor was joined by other members of the Governor’s Cabinet Opiate Action Team at CompDrug Inc., in Columbus, OH, on April 12 to announce new proposals in the Mid-Biennium Review to strengthen Ohio’s fight against prescription drug abuse and opiate addiction.
The proposals would ensure responsible opiate addiction treatment; hold pharmacy technicians to stronger accountability; establish new oversight for purchasing and distributing controlled substances; limit high-volume prescriptions to prevent misuse; enact common sense regulation for methadone clinics; and expand access to the lifesaving medication naloxone which can reverse opiate overdoses.
Regarding the naloxone proposal, entities that regularly interact with high-risk individuals such as homeless shelters, halfway homes, schools, and treatment centers, would be allowed to carry naloxone without a distributor license from the State of Ohio Board of Pharmacy. In addition, Project DAWN programs would be eligible for funding provided in the current state budget to purchase naloxone if the funds are not being used by first responders in their counties. Local Project DAWN programs provide free naloxone kits and training for individuals who know someone or are themselves at risk of experiencing an opiate overdose.
Ohio Department of Mental Health and Addiction Services Director Tracy Plouck and Medical Director Mark Hurst, MD, State of Ohio Board of Pharmacy Director Steve Schierholt, and Ohio Department of Health Medical Director Mary DiOrio, MD, joined the lieutenant governor to announce the new reforms.