Engaging law enforcement in overdose reversal initiatives: Authorization and liability for naloxone administration

American Journal of Public Health

Volumn 105, Issue 8, 2015, Pages 1530-1537

  Davis, Corey S ^a   Carr, Derek ^a   Southwell, Jessica K ^b   Beletsky, Leo ^c  

^a Network for Public Health Law Southeastern Region   (United States)

^b IL   (United States)

^c NORTHEASTERN UNIVERSITY   (United States)

Author keywords

[No Author keywords available]

Indexed keywords

NALOXONE; NARCOTIC ANTAGONIST;

DRUG OVERDOSE; HUMAN; LEGAL LIABILITY; LEGISLATION AND JURISPRUDENCE; POLICE; UNITED STATES;

DRUG OVERDOSE; HUMANS; LIABILITY, LEGAL; NALOXONE; NARCOTIC ANTAGONISTS; POLICE; UNITED STATES;

EID: 84937598699     PISSN: 00900036     EISSN: 15410048     Source Type: Journal    
DOI: 10.2105/AJPH.2015.302638     Document Type: Review

References (80)

1. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Vital signs: overdoses of prescription opioid pain relievers and other drugs among women - United States, 1999-2010. MMWR Morb Mortal Wkly Rep. 2013;62(26):537-542.
2. Rossen LM, KhanD,WarnerM. Trends and geographic patterns in drug-poisoning death rates in the US, 1999-2009. Am J Prev Med. 2013;45(6):e19-e25.
3. Chien LH, Hedegaard H, Warner M. Drug-poisoning deaths involving opioid analgesics: United States, 1999-2011. NCHS Data Brief. 2014;(166):1-8.
4. Warner M, Chen LH, Makuc DM, Anderson RN, Miniño AM. Drug poisoning deaths in the United States, 1980-2008. NCHS Data Brief. 2011;(81):1-8.
5. Okie S. A flood of opioids, a rising tide of deaths. N Engl J Med. 2010;363(21):1981-1985.
6. Modarai F, Mack K, Hicks P, et al. Relationship of opioid prescription sales and overdoses, North Carolina. Drug Alcohol Depend. 2013;132(1-2):81-86.
7. Peavy KM, Banta-Green CJ, Kingston S, Hanrahan M, Merrill JO, Coffin PO. "Hooked on" prescription-type opiates prior to using heroin: results from a survey of syringe exchange clients. J Psychoactive Drugs. 2012;44(3):259-265.
8. Pollini RA, Banta-Green CJ, Cuevas- Mota J, Metzner M, Teshale E, Garfein RS. Problematic use of prescription-type opioids prior to heroin use among young heroin injectors. Subst Abuse Rehabil. 2011;2(1):173-180.
9. Jones CM. Heroin use and heroin use risk behaviors among nonmedical users of prescription opioid pain relievers - United States, 2002-2004 and 2008-2010. Drug Alcohol Depend. 2013;132(1-2):95-100.
10. New York City Department of Health and Mental Hygiene. Unintentional drug poisoning (overdose) deaths in New York City, 2000-2012. Epi Data Brief. 2013;(33):1-4.
11. Markon J. Holder calls deaths from heroin overdoses an "urgent and growing public health crisis." Washington Post. March 10, 2014. Available at: http://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/holder-calls-deaths- from-heroin-overdoses-an-urgent-and-growing-public-health-crisis/2014/03/10/1a99720a-a7cf-11e3-b61e-8051b8b52d06-story.html. Accessed October 25, 2014.
12. Rudd RA, Paulozzi LJ, Bauer MJ, et al. Increases in heroin overdose deaths - 28 States, 2010 to 2012. MMWR Morb Mortal Wkly Rep. 2014;63(39):849-854.
13. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. 2013 drug overdose mortality data announced [press release]. Atlanta, GA: January 12, 2015.
14. Chamberlain JM, Klein BL. A comprehensive review of naloxone for the emergency physician. Am J Emerg Med. 1994;12(6):650-660.
15. Kim D, Irwin KS, Khoshnood K. Expanded access to naloxone: options for critical response to the epidemic of opioid overdose mortality. Am J Public Health. 2009;99(3):402-407.
16. Walley AY, Xuan Z, Hackman HH, et al. Opioid overdose rates and implementation of overdose education and nasal naloxone distribution in Massachusetts: interrupted time series analysis. BMJ. 2013;346:f174.
17. Ashton H, Hassan Z. Best evidence topic report. Intranasal naloxone in suspected opioid overdose. Emerg Med J. 2006;23(3):221-223.
18. Leino K, Mildh L, Lertola K, Seppala T, Kirvela O. Time course of changes in breathing pattern in morphine- and oxycodone-induced respiratory depression. Anaesthesia. 1999;54(9):835-840.
19. Bouillon T, Bruhn J, Roepcke H, Hoeft A. Opioid-induced respiratory depression is associated with increased tidal volume variability. Eur J Anaesthesiol. 2003;20(2):127-133.
20. Pattinson KT. Opioids and the control of respiration. Br J Anaesth. 2008;100(6):747-758.
21. Lewanowitsch T, Irvine RJ. Naloxone methiodide reverses opioid-induced respiratory depression and analgesia without withdrawal. Eur J Pharmacol. 2002;445(1-2):61-67.
22. Barton ED, Ramos J, Colwell C, Benson J, Baily J, Dunn W. Intranasal administration of naloxone by paramedics. Prehosp Emerg Care. 2002;6(1):54-58.
23. Davis CS, Banta-Green CJ, Coffin P, Dailey MW, Walley AY. Intranasal naloxone for opioid overdose reversal. Prehosp Emerg Care. 2015; 19(1):135-137.
24. Maxwell S, Bigg D, Stanczykiewicz K, Carlberg-Racich S. Prescribing naloxone to actively injecting heroin users: a program to reduce heroin overdose deaths. J Addict Dis. 2006;25(3):89-96.
25. Galea S, Worthington N, Piper TM, Nandi VV, Curtis M, Rosenthal DM. Provision of naloxone to injection drug users as an overdose prevention strategy: early evidence from a pilot study in New York City. Addict Behav. 2006;31(5):907-912.
26. Clark AK, Wilder CM, Winstanley EL. A systematic review of community opioid overdose prevention and naloxone distribution programs. J Addict Med. 2014;8(3):153-163.
27. Piper TM, Stancliff S, Rudenstine S, et al. Evaluation of a naloxone distribution and administration program in New York City. Subst Use Misuse. 2008;43(7):858-870.
28. Doe-Simkins M, Walley AY, Epstein A, Moyer P. Saved by the nose: bystander-administered intranasal naloxone hydrochloride for opioid overdose. Am J Public Health. 2009;99(5):788-791.
29. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Community-based opioid overdose prevention programs providing naloxone - United States, 2010. MMWR Morb Mortal Wkly Rep. 2012;61(6):101-105.
30. Coffin PO, Sullivan SD. Cost-effectiveness of distributing naloxone to heroin users for lay overdose reversal. Ann Intern Med. 2013;158(1):1-9.
31. Beletsky L, Rich JD, Walley AY. Prevention of fatal opioid overdose. JAMA. 2012;308(18):1863-1864.
32. Davis C, Webb D, Burris S. Changing law from barrier to facilitator of opioid overdose prevention. J Law Med Ethics. 2013;41(suppl 1):33-36.
33. Davis CS. Legal Interventions to Reduce Overdose Mortality: Naloxone Access and Overdose Good Samaritan Laws. St. Paul, MN: Network for Public Health Law; 2014.
34. Davis CS, Ruiz S, Glynn P, Picariello G, Walley AY. Expanded access to naloxone among firefighters, police officers, and emergency medical technicians in Massachusetts. Am J Public Health. 2014;104(8):e7-e9.
35. US Department of Transportation Federal Interagency Committee on Emergency Medical Services. National EMS Assessment. Washington, DC: US Department of Transportation. 2012.
36. st Century: A National Assessment. Washington, DC: National Highway Traffic Safety Administration; 2008.
37. Rawlinson C, Crews P. Access to Quality Health Services in Rural Areas Emergency Medical Services: A Literature Review. College Station, TX: Texas A&M University System Health Science Center, School of Rural Public Health, Southwest Rural Health Research Center; 2003.
38. Davis CS, Southwell JK, Niehaus VR, Walley AY, Dailey MW. Emergency medical services naloxone access: a national systematic legal review. Acad Emerg Med. 2014;21(10):1173-1177.
39. Strachan L, Noble DW. Hypoxia and surgical patients - prevention and treatment of an unnecessary cause of morbidity and mortality. J R Coll Surg Edinb. 2001;46(5):297-302.
40. Sporer KA. Strategies for preventing heroin overdose. BMJ. 2003;326(7386):442-444.
41. Davis C. Legal Interventions to Reduce Overdose Mortality: Emergency Medical Services Naloxone Access. St. Paul, MN: Network for Public Health Law; 2014.
42. Office of National Drug Control Policy. Announcing the opioid overdose toolkit [press release]. Washington, DC: August 28, 2013.
43. Department of Justice Office of Public Affairs. Attorney General Holder announces plans for federal law enforcement personnel to begin carrying naloxone [press release]. Washington, DC: July 31, 2014.
44. th time. Patriot Ledger. October 8, 2014. Available at: http://www.patriotledger.com/article/20141008/News/141006435. Accessed October 23, 2014.
45. Letter from Eric T. Schneiderman, Attorney General of New York, to Law Enforcement Agencies, April 3, 2014. Available at: http://www.ag.ny.gov/sites/default/files/pdfs/features/cop/COP-Letter.pdf. Accessed October 23, 2014.
46. Goodman D. In expanded program, officers across New York City will carry antidote for heroin overdoses. New York Times. May 27, 2014. Available at: http://www.nytimes.com/2014/05/27/nyregion/in-expanded-program-officers-across-new-york-city-will-carry-antidote-for-heroin-overdoses.html. Accessed October 23, 2014.
47. Ortega O. Police union, Somerville at odds on Narcan. Boston Globe. September 22, 2014. Available at: http://www.bostonglobe.com/metro/2014/09/21/required-carry-narcan-somerville-police-union-argues-for-new-contract/ATzxFwi8VYDy3NV1I7nWfI/story.html. Accessed October 20, 2014.
48. Terry N. Join the conversation: should Asbury Park cops and firefighters be allowed to give opiate antidote Narcan? Asbury Park Press. March 10, 2014. Available at: http://www.app.com/article/20140309/NJNEWS/303090028/-1/UPDATE/Asbury-Park-won-t-allow-cops-firefighters-to-give-opiate-antidote-Narcan. Accessed October 23, 2014.
49. Dinan E. Pols, first responders debate letting officers give overdose antidote. Seacoast Online. May 6, 2014. Available at: http://www.seacoastonline.com/article/20140506/News/405060407. Accessed October 23, 2014.
50. Rhodes T. The "risk environment": a framework for understanding and reducing drug-related harm. Int J Drug Policy. 2002;13(2):85-94.
51. Burris S, Norland J, Edlin BR. Legal aspects of providing naloxone to heroin users in the United States. Int J Drug Policy. 2001;12(3):237-248.
52. Lawthers AG, Laird NM, Lipsitz S, Hebert L, Brennan TA, Localio AR. Physicians' perceptions of the risk of being sued. J Health Polit Policy Law. 1992;17(3):463-482.
53. Carrier ER, Reschovsky JD, Mello MM, Mayrell RC, Katz D. Physicians' fears of malpractice lawsuits are not assuaged by tort reforms. Health Aff (Millwood). 2010;29(9):1585-1592.
54. Hughes T. Police officers and civil liability: "the ties that bind"? Policing. 2001;24(2):240-262.
55. Burris S, Beletsky L, Castagna C, Coyle C, Crowe C, McLaughlin JM. Stopping an invisible epidemic: legal issues in the provision of naloxone to prevent opioid overdose. Drexel Law Review. 2009;1(2):273-339.
56. Yealy DM, Paris PM, Kaplan RM, Heller MB, Marini SE. The safety of prehospital naloxone administration by paramedics. Ann Emerg Med. 1990;19(8):902-905.
57. Hsu W, Rao RB, Nelson LS. Naloxone hazards overstated. J Toxicol Clin Toxicol. 1997;35(2):215-217, 219-220.
58. Buajordet I, Naess AC, Jacobsen D, Brors O. Adverse events after naloxone treatment of episodes of suspected acute opioid overdose. Eur J Emerg Med. 2004;11(1):19-23.
59. Wermeling DP. Review of naloxone safety for opioid overdose: practical considerations for new technology and expanded public access. Ther Adv Drug Saf. 2015;6(1):20-31.
60. Belz D, Lieb J, Rea T, Eisenberg MS. Naloxone use in a tiered-response emergency medical services system. Prehosp Emerg Care. 2006;10(4):468-471.
61. Osterwalder JJ. Naloxone - for intoxications with intravenous heroin and heroin mixtures - harmless or hazardous? A prospective clinical study. J Toxicol Clin Toxicol. 1996;34(4):409-416.
62. American Law Institute. Restatement (Second) of Torts. Philadelphia, PA: American Law Institute; 1979.
63. City of Lancaster v. Chambers, 883 SW 2d 650. (TX 1994).
64. Everitt v. General Elec. Co., 932 A. 2d 831 (NH 2007).
65. De Geest G. Who should be immune from tort liability? J Legal Stud. 2012;41(2):291-319.
66. Harlow v. Fitzgerald, 457 US 800 (1982).
67. nd ed. Eagan, MN: Thomson West; 2011.
68. Jeffries JC Jr. In praise of the Eleventh Amendment and Section 1983. Va Law Rev. 1998;84(1):47-82.
69. nd ed. Eagan, MN: Thomson West; 2002.
70. Schwartz JC. Police indemnification. New York Univ Law Rev. 2014;89(3):885-1005.
71. Sutton V. Is there a doctor (and a lawyer) in the house? Why our Good Samaritan laws are doing more harm than good for a national public health security strategy: a fifty-state survey. J Health Biomed Law. 2010;6:261-300.
72. Waisman DA. Negligence, responsibility, and the clumsy Samaritan: is there a fairness rationale for the Good Samaritan immunity? Ga State Univ Law Rev. 2013; 29(Spring):609-683.
73. Reuter SR. Physicians as good Samaritans. Should they receive immunity for their negligence when responding to hospital emergencies? J Leg Med. 1999;20(2):157-193.
74. Volunteer Protection Act of 1997, 42 U.S.C. 14501-14505.
75. City of Newport v. Fact Concerts, Inc., 453 U.S. 247 (1981).
76. W. Va. Code Ann. § 29-12A-4(c)(2).
77. Davis CS, Beletsky L. Bundling occupational safety with harm reduction information as a feasible method for improving police receptiveness to syringe access programs: evidence from three US cities. Harm Reduct J. 2009;6:16.
78. Silverman B, Davis CS, Graff J, Bhatti U, Santos M, Beletsky L. Harmonizing disease prevention and police practice in the implementation of HIV prevention programs: up-stream strategies from Wilmington, Delaware. Harm Reduct J. 2012;9(1):17.
79. Strathdee SA, Beletsky L, Kerr T. HIV, drugs and the legal environment. Int J Drug Policy. 2015;26(suppl 1):S27-S32.
80. Davis CS, Burris S, Kraut-Becher J, Lynch KG, Metzger D. Effects of an intensive street-level police intervention on syringe exchange program use in Philadelphia, PA. Am J Public Health. 2005;95(2):233-236.