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A resolution urging the Tennessee General Assembly to support House Bill 304/Senate Bill 200 to require that certain establishments that serve alcohol maintain at least one dose of naloxone hydrochloride nasal spray on its premises.
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WHEREAS, Naloxone, also known as Narcan, is a non-addictive, life-saving drug that can reverse the effects of an opioid overdose when administered in time and naloxone hydrochloride nasal spray is approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration to treat opioid overdose from fentanyl and its analogues; and
WHEREAS, Representative Justin Jones and Senator London Lamar have introduced House Bill 304/Senate Bill 200 in recognition of the life-saving importance of having naloxone hydrochloride nasal spray close at hand during an overdose; and
WHEREAS, this proposed legislation, as currently written, would require establishments receiving or renewing a liquor-by-the drink license and having gross sales of alcoholic beverages of more than $500,000 each calendar year to maintain at least one unexpired dose of naloxone hydrochloride in an easily accessible location on its premises; and
WHEREAS, the bill as currently written requires a four-milligram dose of the medication, however, amending this to instead require an eight-milligram dose is preferred, as this higher dosage is more effective against fentanyl overdoses; and
WHEREAS, naloxone hydrochloride can be stored at room temperature and is relatively simple to use with training being quick and widely available; and
WHEREAS, there were approximately 700 suspected fatal drug overdoses in Davidson County in 2022, with three-quarters or more of those overdose deaths caused by fentanyl; and
WHEREAS, increasing the availability of naloxone hydrochloride throughout Tennessee will save lives by helping to reverse opioid overdoses; and
WHEREAS, the Metropolitan Council supports efforts by the Tennessee General Assembly to enact House Bill 304/Senate Bill 200.
NOW, THE...
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