Opioid Antagonist Availability & State Board of Health

The bill requires the state board of health (board) to allow the Colorado youth advisory council to present to the board twice a year on issues regarding the youth opioid epidemic and other health issues. The bill also requires the board to consult the council when the board engages in its rule-making authority regarding opioid antagonists.

Under current law, a school district, the state charter school institute, or a governing board of a nonpublic school may adopt and implement a policy that allows:

• A school to acquire and maintain a stock supply of opioid antagonists on school grounds or on a school bus;
• A school employee or agent who has received relevant training to administer an opioid antagonist to a person who is at risk of experiencing an opioid-related overdose; and
• A school employee or agent to furnish an opioid antagonist to any individual, including a student, if the student has received relevant training.

The bill:

• Permits a school to maintain an opioid antagonist in an automated external defibrillator or defibrillator cabinet in the school or on a school bus;
• Repeals the requirement that a school employee or agent must receive training prior to administering an opioid antagonist; and
• Creates an exception that a school employee or agent may furnish an opioid antagonist to a student who has not received relevant training if the employee or agent believes that the student is in a position to assist an individual who is suffering from an opioid-related drug overdose event or who is at risk of experiencing an opioid-related drug overdose event.

Current law provides a specific list of eligible entities that a prescriber may prescribe or dispense an opioid antagonist to. The bill eliminates the specific list and instead requires the state board of health to establish a list of eligible entities that a prescriber may prescribe or dispense an opioid antagonist to.

The bill creates a standing order allowing all eligible entities to distribute opioid antagonists.

The bill requires the department of public health and environment to furnish a report detailing youth overdose prevention during "SMART Act" hearings.

(Note: This summary applies to this bill as introduced.)