PIERRE, S.D. — A new law will allow employers to purchase opioid overdose medications.
Governor Kristi Noem signed a bill earlier this month that will allow employers to purchase Narcan and make it available for employees or members of the public in an emergency.
Under current law, medications used to treat opioid overdoses in emergency situations — such as naloxone, often delivered as Narcan nasal spray — are only able to be purchased and carried by first responders, nurses and people who know someone at risk of overdose.
The FDA is set to make Narcan available without a prescription.
In South Dakota, interest in expanding access to Narcan started with assisted living facilities, where residents could overdose because of a bad reaction to a drug but not have direct access to a nurse.
In addition, opioid-related deaths have more than doubled in South Dakota. Opioids include prescription medications, heroin and fentanyl. Proponents of the change argue having overdose medication readily available will save more lives.
Narcan does not have a negative effect on someone if it’s administered and they aren’t actually suffering from an opioid overdose. The medication also does not give people the sensation of a high — it actually kicks them right into withdrawal — and is relatively easy to administer with instructions.
Narcan can also be beneficial in spaces such as homeless shelters, bars or restaurants, at companies that offer residential treatment programs and assessments for people with chemical dependency issues.
The South Dakota law goes into effect July 1st. There are no plans to establish an awareness campaign.
