Candelora, Kokoruda Support Legislation Tackling Opiate Crisis

Deputy Republican Leader Vincent Candelora and Rep. Noreen Kokoruda have supported legislation that requires cities and towns to make sure they have at least one first responder equipped and trained to administer the reversal drug naloxone. Naloxone is an emergency drug that can sometimes save the life of a person who has overdosed on heroin or prescription opioids, and that municipal requirement is among the provisions of the omnibus legislation drafted in response to the addiction crisis gripping communities statewide. The bill, H.B. 5053, received unanimous support in the House thus far. “Addiction, namely heroin, does not discriminate,” said Candelora, a member of the legislature’s Public Health Committee. “The number of opioid related deaths in Connecticut is rapidly growing and the victims taken by this dangerous drug vary. It is so imperative that we take action and spread awareness to the dangers of heroin and prescription opioids. I’m proud to support this legislation.” Candelora and Kokoruda both co-sponsored the legislation. “This legislation is a critical first step to combating our heroin crisis in Connecticut,” said Kokoruda. “We’ve seen the detrimental impact of heroin in our own communities and something must be done to prevent this trend from escalating further.” Among the bipartisan legislation’s many components:

• Limits practitioners from issuing prescriptions for opioids for minors for more than a 7 day supply
• Changes electronic prescription monitoring program to improve prescriber and pharmacist compliance
• Expands participation of community stakeholders in the Alcohol and Drug Policy Council, and requires the panel to include in our statewide plan a goal of reducing the number of opioid-induced death

The House of Representatives approved the legislation on April 25, and the legislation now heads to the Senate for further action. From there, the legislation will await a signature from Gov. Dannel Malloy, who has joined the legislature in moving Connecticut’s growing addiction crisis toward the top of his agenda.