By the end of the day, an average of 14 Pennsylvanians will die from an overdose. This is happening every day in our state. Lives lost too soon to the scourge of opioid addiction. 

The development and widespread prevalence of naloxone—the first overdose reversal agent of its kind—has been a tremendous tool in helping to save lives and give people a second chance. But the rise in synthetic opioids—like fentanyl—on the illicit drug market has decreased the effectiveness of naloxone. Synthetic opioids are more potent and can outlast the effects of naloxone, leading to a potential re-overdose. 

Luckily, over the past few years, additional opioid overdose reversal agents have been developed. Some of these—which have been thoroughly vetted and approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration—are better able to target the symptoms of a synthetic opioid overdose. The problem is, despite federal approval, they haven’t been approved for use in Pennsylvania yet.

I urge the Shapiro administration to act quickly to align state and federal policy to allow for the utilization of all FDA-approved opioid overdose reversal agents in the commonwealth. Every day of inaction puts so many lives at risk. It’s time to turn the tides against the opioid crisis. 

Josephine Ferro
East Stroudsburg, PA