Why Legal Barriers Prevent Teens From Accessing the Opioid Antidote Naloxone
By
Eli Cahan
Summary
This article examines the paradox of naloxone (Narcan) being a proven, life-saving antidote for opioid overdoses, yet remaining largely inaccessible to teenagers due to legal barriers. It tells the story of a Seattle teen who used Narcan to save a classmate at a party, then explores how prescribing laws, minor consent laws, and Good Samaritan laws in many states prevent teens from legally carrying the medication. The piece highlights the disconnect between the severity of the fentanyl crisis among youth and the outdated legal frameworks that block harm reduction measures for minors.
Source
Rolling StoneWhy Legal Barriers Prevent Teens From Accessing the Opioid Antidote Naloxonerollingstone.comKey quotes
· 3 pulledShe administered the medication: one puff up a nostril, just like that. Minutes later, the teen was whisked away to a hospital and survived.
Naloxone can prevent fentanyl overdoses, but prescribing laws, minor consent laws, and Good Samaritan laws in many states keep teens from carrying it.
The party was pretty standard: outdoors, lots of jungle juice, a collective post-finals sigh. In an instant, though, things took a scary turn when a classmate was found unconscious.
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