Walker signs order allowing pharmacists to dispense Naloxone without prescription

[TomSea]

Walker signs order allowing pharmacists to dispense Naloxone without prescription

Governor Scott Walker signed a statewide standing order Friday allowing Wisconsin pharmacists to dispense Naloxone, a heroin combating drug, to individuals without a prescription.

Naloxone reverses the effects of a heroin overdose.

The standing order, issued by the Department of Health Services and signed by Governor Walker, makes Naloxone available to patients at risk of an opioid overdose and to people in position to assist a patient at risk for an overdose.

Walker signed the order at the Pharmacy Society of Wisconsin’s annual meeting in the Wisconsin Dells.

“Naloxone is safe and effective. Newer ways to administer the drug make it easier to give naloxone in a life-and-death situation,” said Dr. Jon Meiman, Chief Medical Officer for the Bureau of Environmental and Occupational Health in DHS’ Division of Public Health, who signed the standing order. “Allowing pharmacists to provide naloxone without a prescription can help reduce the number of deaths due to an opioid overdose.

Read More At: http://www.wsaw.com/content/news/Walker-signs-order-allowing-pharmacists-to-dispense-Naloxone-without-prescription-391439322.html

Small accomplishment compared to those of the Mighty God of Conservatism as designated by a  report card on the internet; just like its small to actually defund and close Planned Parenthood Clinics. We must admire words not concrete actions.

[geronl]

He signed a piece of paper, that is a jaw-dropping accomplishment. He was Governor for how long before doing this? Is his secretary a slow-typer?

[goodwithagun]

 My husband has pushed narcan on overdose "patients" and they always wake up fighting. He's really into weightlifting and he even struggles sometimes with even the smaller druggies. I wonder if this has the same effect and, if so, those who are getting it to reverse the overdose know it. Having somebody wake up instantly violent would be quite a shock.

[truth_seeker]

I suppose having a supply of this stuff would be helpful, if you know somebody that was taking too much opioids.

But it would be more helpful, to help them get off the deadly drugs entirely.

The medical profession is great at giving patients drugs, but horrible at getting them off the drugs.

Rush Limbo can tell you how simple it is too get addicted, and to live crazy while high on the drugs.

So can Whitney Houston, Prince, etc. Just Say No !!

[geronl]

So can Whitney Houston, Prince, etc. Just Say No !!

No they can't tell anyone... they're dead! 

[jmyrlefuller]

Bad idea.

There's been a huge spike in these heroin/fentanyl OD's since they introduced naloxone around here. Now, part of it may be simply correlation and not causation, but there does seem to be at least the popular opinion that "hey, if anything bad happens, there's always Narcan." That, and Narcan itself seems to provide a certain kind of high, too. The mass usage of these "antidotes" seems to provide a false safety net that encourages more usage.