Connecticut House Bill HB05723

Connecticut 2021 Regular Session

• Introduced: 1/27/21
• Refer: 1/27/21

Caption

An Act Concerning Police Department Access To Opioid Antagonists Such As Narcan.

Impact

If enacted, this legislation would potentially widen the availability of Narcan to police departments throughout the state, enabling officers to carry and administer this medication during emergency situations. The impact on state laws involves establishing regulations that allow law enforcement agencies to stock Narcan, which is currently not uniformly available across police departments. This could lead to an increase in the number of overdose interventions performed by police, ultimately aiming to save lives in communities deeply affected by opioid misuse.

Summary

House Bill 05723 aims to amend state law to facilitate local police departments’ access to opioid antagonists, specifically Narcan, as a response to the ongoing opioid epidemic. The bill's primary intent is to enhance the capability of law enforcement to combat opioid overdoses effectively by providing them with necessary life-saving medications. Understanding the urgency of the opioid crisis, the bill sets forth a program that outlines the procedures by which police departments can obtain these critical substances.

Contention

Although the bill appears to have a consensus regarding its life-saving purpose, there might be contention surrounding the implications of police carrying medical interventions. Some advocates for public health may raise concerns about the appropriateness of police officers administering medical treatments and the potential for an expanded role of law enforcement in health-related crises. This aspect could create a dialogue about the training required for officers and whether such measures might lead to an expectation for police to engage in health crises as part of their mandate.