The legislation, also known as “Aaron’s Law,” was written in the face of the drug crisis in Indiana and designed to reduce the number of overdose deaths. The law was named after Aaron Sims, who died of a heroin overdose in 2013.
It made Naloxone, an antidote for opioid overdosage, available to the public by allowing anyone to request it at pharmacies, doctor’s offices and other approved locations.
Lester Burris is a pharmacist at Panacea Pharmacy, tucked in the back of Lucky’s Market. Since the law came out, he said the pharmacy dispensed Naloxone, also known as Narcan, to two people, both in medical careers.
“Outside of the healthcare professions, people don’t really know yet,” Burris said.
Burris said not all pharmacies are able to give people Naloxone yet.
Before a pharmacy is allowed to have a supply of the drug, the new law requires that a doctor write the pharmacy a standing order, or a kind of prescription that enables the pharmacy to dispense the medication when requested.
Panacea Pharmacy recently acquired a standing order.
“We’ve had doctors say it’s so new I’m not entirely comfortable with it,” Burris said.
Burris said doctors and pharmacies are not at risk if they give out Naloxone.
The law “completely exempted” them if an individual dies from Naloxone overdose or if the medication fails to work.
“An overdose isn’t going to happen, that would have to be a huge amount of Naloxone,” Burris said.
Burris said his pharmacy plans to begin a small promotion to make people more aware.
The Indiana Recovery Alliance, a nonprofit dedicated to reducing harm from drug use, has already had some success with Naloxone since it’s been able to distribute it.
“We’ve been distributing for about a month and a half,” volunteer Christopher Abert said. “We’ve had eight overdose reversals so far.”
Abert said he thinks confusion is the reason why practical implementation of the law has been slow. He emphasized how safe Naloxone is to prescribe.
“It’s 100 percent safe, doesn’t interact with any other drugs,” Abert said. “You can’t abuse it.”
All it does, Abert said, is reverse the opioid overdose, preventing the brain from telling the rest of the body to stop breathing.
In Monroe County, Naloxone has yet to gain a widespread presence.
Monroe County Sheriff Brad Swain said the department was “exploring” the idea of equipping officers with the antidote, but doesn’t have definite plans either way.
Diana Ebling, the medical director at IU Health Center on Jordan Avenue, said making Naloxone available is part of an on-going internal discussion.
Cathy Hewett from the Monroe County Health Department was more optimistic, although the department has no definite plans regarding the antidote.
“We’re working on approval for a syringe-exchange program,” Hewett said. “We hope that might be a part of it at some point.”
Hewett said the practical effects of the law — the fact that someone could have Naloxone on-hand in an emergency — could make the ultimate difference.
“It will save lives,” Hewett said. “It can make a big difference in the case of someone who overdosed.”
