House passes bill designed to make it easier to respond to opioid overdoses

The Missouri House has passed legislation designed to remove government red tape that some say get in the way of responding to opioid overdoses. 

It’s sponsored by Republican Representative Brenda Shields of St. Joseph.  

Shields says “It allows our emergency personnel to be able to distribute Narcan without working under a medical director. It changes the statute to allow all FDA-approved drugs and devices to be used for that purpose…and also legalizes the uses of fentanyl strips.”

Shields says she hopes the bill can help save lives.

It passed the House unanimously and now heads to the Missouri Senate.