Oct. 25, 2022
HARRISBURG – Legislation sponsored by Rep. Chris Quinn (R-Delaware) extending Good Samaritan protections for the use of new opioid overdose reversal drugs in advance of their anticipated approval by the United States Food and Drug Administration (FDA) heads to the governor’s desk after being approved by the state Senate.
“Naloxone has been an important weapon in the fight against the opioid epidemic,” said Quinn. “As alternatives to naloxone advance through the approval process, it is important we modify state law so these medications can be deployed as soon as they receive FDA approval.
Good Samaritan laws provide immunity from civil damages for personal injuries, even including death, that result from ordinary negligence. In 2014, the General Assembly passed Act 139, providing legal immunity to those who administer naloxone, commonly known by its trade name, Narcan. Quinn’s legislation,
House Bill 2527, passed the House unanimously in June and would substitute “opioid antagonist” for “naloxone” in statute.
Local law enforcement officials praised the new law.
“According to the CDC, drug overdoses rose 31% nationally in the most recent year for which we have complete data, 2020, to almost 92,000,” said Quinn. “In Pennsylvania, overdose deaths rose by more than 16% to more than 5,100.
“In a four-year period ending this January, the PA Department of Health reports more than 67,000 doses of Narcan have been administered by EMS with still tens of thousands more administered by others. Its broad, grassroots distribution has no doubt saved countless lives.
“Act 139 is an example of bi-partisan work to address a policy need of great importance. However, the next generation of opioid reversal medications will receive FDA approval in the very near future. My bill will encourage the rapid deployment of these new medications in Pennsylvania after they receive FDA approval.”
Representative Chris Quinn
168th District, Pennsylvania House of Representatives
RepChrisQuinn.com /
Facebook.com/RepChrisQuinn
Media Contact: Rene Morrow
rmorrow@pahousegop.com
717-260-6273