New Tennessee law hopes to prevent overdose deaths by making life-saving drug more accessible

NASHVILLE, Tenn. (WKRN) — Tennessee Home Invoice 2465 turned regulation on April 4th. This new regulation will arm extra Tennesseans with the required data and instruments to assist forestall deadly drug-related overdoses which might be all too widespread in our state.

This regulation may very well be a lifeline in Tennessee, the place the opioid epidemic is deadlier than ever and naloxone isn’t broadly dispersed.

This invoice turning into regulation hits house for one Nashvillian, Brian Sullivan.

“I used to be revived by naloxone, Sullivan mentioned. “The overdose I skilled was not from dependancy it was from melancholy. It was a suicide try and a part of the explanation I used to be ready to do this was as a result of there have been prescription opioids in my house,” Sullivan mentioned.

Sullivan mentioned he was one of many fortunate ones as a result of he lived just some blocks away from the police division the place he was administered the drug.

“Had I not lived so shut or been in a rural space that would have killed me,” Sullivan mentioned.

Sullivan believes growing the provision and focused distribution of naloxone is a crucial part within the efforts to cut back opioid-related overdose deaths.

“It’s a crucial and needed band-aid on a hemorrhage in our state,” Sullivan mentioned.

Medics regularly use the drug, and it’s change into more and more extra widespread in police departments and faculties, particularly in Cheatham County.

Lt. Shannon Heflin mentioned overdose deaths in Cheatham County have reached alarming numbers.

“We’re as much as 10 overdose fatalities in our county, which is a large improve,” Lt. Heflin mentioned.

Sullivan, an advocate for survivors, mentioned naloxone is essential to stopping deaths. He mentioned when an overdose happens, you need there to be naloxone close by and for everybody round to know the best way to use it.

“If individuals are going to do it anyway a lot of these measures might save a life,” Sullivan mentioned.