Morning Briefing
Summaries of health policy coverage from major news organizations
Philadelphia City Council Votes To Ban Most Supervised Injection Sites
The Philadelphia Inquirer: Philadelphia Lawmakers Vote To Prohibit Supervised Injection Sites In Most Of The City
Philadelphia City Council voted Thursday to prohibit supervised drug consumption sites across most of the city, greatly imperiling the future of such a facility if the legislation becomes law. The bill, which passed 13-1 during Council’s first meeting of the fall session, now heads to the desk of Mayor Jim Kenney, who has endorsed supervised drug consumption sites as a strategy to prevent overdose deaths. A spokesperson for his administration said this week that he remains supportive. (Orso, 9/14)
AP: Communities Across Appalachia Band Together For First-Ever 13-State Narcan Distribution Event
An effort to destigmatize the use of overdose reversal drugs that started as a pilot in two West Virginia counties has expanded to all thirteen states in Appalachia this year. The first-ever “Appalachian Save a Life Day” comes Thursday, on the heels of the approval of Narcan as drug that can be purchased over the counter for nonprescription use — a long-awaited victory towards normalizing and improving access to the decades-old, live-saving medication. (Willingham, 9/14)
San Francisco Chronicle: Narcan: Experts Say ‘Everyone’ Should Carry Opioid-Reversal Medication
With the opioid overdose-reversing nasal spray Narcan poised to hit pharmacy shelves this month as an over-the-counter product for the first time, experts like Ciccarone and Mulcahy are urging the public to make Narcan a medicine cabinet staple. Public health officials and addiction medicine providers have long encouraged people at highest risk of opioid overdoses to carry naloxone, often referred to by the brand name Narcan. They include those who are struggling with addiction and are most likely to experience an overdose or be near someone who does. (Ho, 9/14)
Roll Call: Congressional Aides Learn How To Provide Overdose Aid
“Guys who are standing up, come take a seat behind the dais,” Rep. David Trone said to the handful of congressional aides hovering by the door of a packed committee hearing room Wednesday. It was standing room only in Longworth 1302 for the second annual naloxone training for congressional staff, and at Trone’s behest, the group of latecomers shuffled over to take the seats usually reserved for their bosses. They crammed in to learn how to respond to an opioid overdose and administer naloxone, which is sold under the brand name Narcan. (Saksa, 9/14)
Los Angeles Times: Here's How To Start The Conversation About Fentanyl
Song for Charlie, a nonprofit that raises awareness of counterfeit pills laced with fentanyl, in partnership with the California Department of Health Care Services, commissioned a survey of 1,574 California residents, which included parents, young adults and teens, in May and June of this year. Four in 10 young adults and half of teens surveyed said they aren’t knowledgeable about the issues surrounding fentanyl. Parents reported “lack of knowledge” as a key barrier that keeps them from talking about the issue with their children. (Garcia, 9/14)
