President Biden has tasked the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) with the mission to reduce overdose deaths. In this regard, regulations are being proposed to ensure that all federal facilities are equipped with overdose reversal medications, such as naloxone. The General Services Administration (GSA) is supporting these measures.
"Far too many lives are being lost to overdose. Fortunately, we know what it takes to save people. Safety stations save lives," stated HHS Secretary Xavier Becerra. "We must continue to do everything we can to make sure the necessary tools are quickly and easily available so anyone can respond to an emergency situation - anytime, anywhere. It's about empowering everyone to play a role in saving lives when it counts the most."
According to a news release from HHS, these medications will be housed at "safety stations", which will extend the reach of the automated external defibrillators (AED) program by situating them in the same vicinity. The GSA recommends that each area should be equipped with either a bystander-empowered opioid reversal agent or hemorrhagic control component, or both.
"Today, we are taking the historic step to recommend that every federal facility across the nation has lifesaving overdose reversal medications like naloxone on site," said Dr. Rahul Gupta, Director of White House Office of National Drug Control Policy (ONDCP). "Under President Biden’s leadership, we have worked to make overdose reversal medication more accessible and available than ever before. These life-saving medications should be as readily available as fire extinguishers or defibrillators in all public spaces, from schools, housing communities, restaurants, retail outlets and other businesses. And now, as the nation’s largest employer, we are leading by example. President Biden’s Unity Agenda calls for all Americans to come together to beat the overdose epidemic, and the private sector has a critical role to play in saving lives and ending this crisis."
"Saving lives is at the very core of the HHS Overdose Prevention Strategy and that’s why it’s so important for federal facilities to have naloxone and other opioid overdose reversal medications readily available," said Miriam E. Delphin-Rittmon, Ph.D., HHS Assistant Secretary for Mental Health and Substance Use and the leader of the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA). "Taking this step ensures these lifesaving medications are accessible, and protects the millions of Americans that work in and visit these facilities every year."
