Shapiro Launches “Narcan in Courts” Initiative Across PA

Harrisburg, PA. – Today, the Pennsylvania Department of Drug and Alcohol Programs (DDAP) launched Narcan in Courts, a new initiative to expand access to the lifesaving overdose reversal medication naloxone by having it on hand at judicial buildings — including courthouses — across the Commonwealth in the event someone is experiencing an overdose. Naloxone is a medication approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration to reverse an opioid overdose by quickly restoring breathing to an individual if their breathing has slowed or stopped. “Overdoses can happen anytime, anywhere. ‘Narcan in Courts’ will help to expand access to naloxone by placing it in buildings within Pennsylvania’s judicial system that are open to the public,” said DDAP Secretary Dr. Latika Davis-Jones.  The naloxone for the initiative is funded and supplied through DDAP’s Overdose Prevention Program. DDAP is providing 600 Narcan kits, which equates to 1,200 individual doses of Narcan – the common brand of naloxone that comes as a nasal spray – to the Administrative Office of Pennsylvania Courts (AOPC). The goal of the new, voluntary initiative is to place one Narcan kit in each of the 512 Magisterial District Judge courts and all 67 county courthouses for on-site emergency use. The Narcan will be placed in locations near or similar to those that house AEDs. In addition to distributing Narcan, AOPC will provide instructions, educational materials, and information about training videos to each location.