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From our State Capitol in Lansing to the U.S. Capitol in Washington, DC, WKAR is committed to explaining how the actions of lawmakers are affecting Michiganders. Political and government reporter Abigail Censky leads this section. There are also stories from Capitol correspondents Cheyna Roth, Rick Pluta and the Associated Press. As the 2020 presidential race begins, look here for reports on the role Michigan will play in electing or re-electing the president.

Bills To Expand Who Can Administer Opioid Antagonist See Movement In Legislature

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Pan American Health Organization PAHO
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The list of who can administer emergency opioid overdose medication in Michigan could grow.

 

Bills in Lansing would allow trained employees at places like public schools and libraries to administer the agent commonly called Narcan. It would also allow firefighters and EMTs to administer Narcan, among others.

 

Bill sponsor, Senator Peter Lucido (R-Shelby Township) is a bill sponsor said this is about saving lives.

 

“We have fire extinguishers in public buildings for a purpose,” he said. “To put a fire out. This is the same idea.”

 

Some of the bills in the package were passed in the state Senate Wednesday. The bills also protect trained employees who administer the medication from civil liability if something goes wrong.

 

“It’s getting to the heart of what an issue is when you have an overdose,” Lucido said. “It’s taking care of the issue before it becomes a death. And if you don’t have the Narcan in hand, you’ll never be able to save that individual.”

Before becoming the newest Capitol reporter for Michigan Public Radio Network, Cheyna Roth was an attorney. She spent her days fighting it out in court as an assistant prosecuting attorney for Ionia County.
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