WASHINGTON, D.C. — U.S. Sens. Shelley Moore Capito (R-W.Va.) and Tim Kaine (D-Va.) introduced legislation last week to help prevent opioid overdose deaths.
The Co-prescribing Saves Lives Act encourages physicians to co-prescribe the life-saving drug naloxone alongside opioid prescriptions and by making naloxone more widely available in federal health settings.
It will also enable more health professionals to get naloxone, an antidote for opioid overdoses, into homes of people who are at risk for overdoses.
“Families and communities across West Virginia have been affected by the drug abuse epidemic, with our state sadly leading the nation in drug-related overdose deaths,” said Capito. “We must fight this terrible epidemic from all fronts, including preventing deaths from opioid overdoses.”
West Virginia has the highest number of drug overdose deaths in the nation.
Naloxone, also known as Narcan, reversed more than 26,000 overdose cases between 1996 and 2014.
