Title 14. Criminal Law

Chapter 2. Miscellaneous Crimes and Offenses

Part V. Offenses Affecting Law Enforcement

14:403.11   Administration of opiate antagonists; immunity

A. First responders shall have the authority to administer, without prescription, opiate antagonists when encountering an individual exhibiting signs of an opiate overdose. 

B. For the purposes of this Section, a first responder shall include all of the following: 

(1) A law enforcement official. 

(2) An emergency medical technician. 

(3) A firefighter. 

(4) Medical personnel at secondary schools and institutions of higher education. 

C. (1) Before administering an opioid antagonist pursuant to this Section, a first responder shall complete the training necessary to safely and properly administer an opioid antagonist to individuals who are undergoing or who are believed to be undergoing an opioid-related drug overdose. The training, at a minimum, shall cover all of the following: 

(a) Techniques on how to recognize symptoms of an opioid-related overdose. 

(b) Standards and procedures for the storage and administration of an opioid antagonist. 

(c) Emergency follow-up procedures. 

(2) Any first responder administering an opiate antagonist in a manner consistent with addressing opiate overdose shall not be liable for any civil damages as a result of any act or omission in rendering such care or services or as a result of any act or failure to act to provide or arrange for further medical treatment or care for the person involved in said emergency, unless the damage or injury was caused by willful or wanton misconduct or gross negligence. 

D. The deputy secretary of public safety services of the Department of Public Safety and Corrections shall develop and promulgate, in accordance with the Administrative Procedure Act, a set of best practices for use by a fire department or law enforcement agency in the administration and enforcement of this Section including but not limited to the training necessary to safely and properly administer an opioid antagonist to individuals who are undergoing or who are believed to be undergoing an opioid-related drug overdose, the standards and procedures for the storage and administration of an opioid antagonist, and emergency follow-up procedures.

Added by Acts 2014, No. 392, § 1.