LOS ANGELES OVERDOSE PREVENTION TASK FORCE

POSITION STATEMENT

The Los Angeles Overdose Prevention Task Force is an interdisciplinary coalition of governmental organizations, community agencies and individuals working to prevent rising opiate overdose deaths throughout Los Angeles County. We are an independent body, which operates by collaboration and consensus.

The Los Angeles Overdose Prevention Task Force views opiate overdose as a public health problem requiring a prompt, evidence-based, diverse and collaborative response.

The Los Angeles Overdose Prevention Task Force believes a coordinated effort which includes direct service, public policy and research is necessary in order to prevent the rising numbers of fatal opiate overdoses in Los Angeles County.

Scientific research completed in other cities has shown that those at highest risk for fatal opiate overdose are individuals who experience periods of reduced opiate tolerance, especially those who are exiting drug treatment facilities, jail and prison. Therefore, we believe that these populations should be targeted for life-saving education and prevention efforts.

We believe that opiate overdose prevention programs should include training and education to those at risk for opiate overdose as well as those who provide services to those at risk for opiate overdose. We believe the essential components of opiate overdose prevention training should include education about causes, pre-disposing risks and guidance on how to respond to witnessed opiate overdoses. Rescue breathing, a component of cardiopulmonary resuscitation, is a necessary component of opiate overdose training, as are instructions for calling 911 in the event of an overdose.

The Los Angeles Overdose Prevention Task Force also supports the provision of the drug naloxone (trade name Narcan) via prescription by licensed medical providers to those at risk for opiate overdose, their loved ones and associates. Naloxone, a non-addictive opiate antagonist, commonly used by paramedics and emergency room providers to reverse opiate overdoses, has been shown to be a safe and effective life-saving treatment for more than forty years.

The Task Force will make every effort necessary to research, promote and implement the policy and legislative measures so that naloxone may be provided legally within Los Angeles County. It will work closely with the State of California, Los Angeles County Department of Public Health and law enforcement agencies in order to protect those who prescribe and administer naloxone and will support those agencies and providers who provide naloxone to those at risk for opiate overdose.

The Task Force views naloxone as an essential component of overdose prevention programs whenever and wherever possible. When conditions prevent the provision of naloxone, we support every other effort to train those at risk in rescue breathing, and overdose prevention, recognition and response.