Opioid Crisis: Retailers Ready to Save Lives, Need Congress' Help
The opioid crisis continues to impact the U.S., with overdoses causing nearly one in 10 worker fatalities in 2024. Organizations like the American Medical Association (AMA) and Harm Reduction Coalition advocate for expanding Good Samaritan laws to increase access to naloxone and its administration. Retailers are ready to help, but liability concerns and low bystander intervention hinder progress.
Naloxone, a lifesaving drug that reverses opioid overdoses, is readily available in retail pharmacies. However, liability concerns prevent wider distribution. Retail employees are familiar with naloxone and have administered it, but only 3.4% of naloxone recipients from June 2020 to June 2022 received it from a layperson. This low number highlights the need for more bystander intervention.
Expanding Good Samaritan laws, similar to those protecting defibrillator users, can encourage more people to administer naloxone. Congress is urged to provide blanket protection for naloxone use. Retailers want to increase access to naloxone in stores but need these protections. Pairing naloxone administration with withdrawal medication increases the likelihood of long-term addiction treatment, making it a crucial step in combating the opioid crisis.
With overdoses accounting for a significant number of worker fatalities, expanding access to naloxone and encouraging bystander intervention is vital. Retailers stand ready to help, but they need Congress to extend Good Samaritan protections for naloxone administration. This step can significantly improve the chances of saving lives and combating the opioid crisis.
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