U.S. Sens. Shelley Moore Capito (R-WV) and Tim Kaine (D-VA) recently introduced the Co-prescribing Saves Lives Act, which aims to prevent opioid overdose deaths by urging physicians to co-prescribe the life-saving drug naloxone alongside opioid prescriptions, as well as make naloxone more widely available in the federal health care realm.
“Families and communities across West Virginia have been affected by the drug-abuse epidemic, with our state sadly leading the nation in drug-related overdose deaths," Capito said. “We must fight this terrible epidemic from all fronts, including preventing deaths from opioid overdoses. This bill will help save lives, better equip our health care professionals with tools to treat overdoses and give West Virginians suffering from addiction a second chance."
Kaine said the drug epidemic continues to hurt every corner of Virginia. Kaine said naloxone will help address the issue.
”West Virginia has the highest number of drug-overdose deaths in the nation," Kaine said. "Nationwide, heroin and prescription opioids account for approximately 25,000 American deaths per year. Naloxone, also known as Narcan, reversed more than 26,000 overdose cases between 1996 and 2014."