Posted: | August 28, 2023 11:18 AM |
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From: | Senator Doug Mastriano |
To: | All Senate members |
Subject: | Enhancing Drug Overdose Tracking and Lifesaving Response |
In the near future, I plan to introduce legislation to improve how Pennsylvania tracks and responds to drug overdoses. Act 158 of 2022 codified the Overdose Information Network (ODIN) system into law and required all law enforcement in Pennsylvania to input reports of an overdose within 72 hours of the incident into the ODIN system. ODIN is a centralized database that enables law enforcement agencies to quickly record, analyze and share information concerning fatal and non-fatal drug overdoses, naloxone administrations, and identifying markings found on drug packaging. Since the enactment of Act 158, overdose reporting into the ODIN system has increased by almost 70% compared to this point last year. Access to real time data helps public officials ensure that adequate overdose reversal drug supplies are available, substance use outreach efforts are enhanced, and law enforcement investigations are undertaken to interrupt sources of deadly substances. My legislation will add Emergency Medical Services (EMS) providers as required reporters to the ODIN system. EMS providers are responsible for handling over 80% of overdoses annually in Pennsylvania and adding them to the ODIN system will drastically improve the overall accuracy of the system. This proposal was recommended by the Pennsylvania State Police in a July 2023 report to the General Assembly and is also supported by the Liberty Mid Atlantic High Intensity Drug Trafficking Area (HIDTA). Adding EMS to the ODIN system will vastly improve how our commonwealth tracks, maps, and responds to overdose incidents. The enactment of this legislation will help save lives as we continue to combat the overdose epidemic. Please join me as a co-sponsor. |
Introduced as SB1054