Quinn legislation to help overdose survivors passes House

After working years on legislation to stave the opioid epidemic, state Rep. Chris Quinn, R-168 of Middletown hopes his bill moving to the state Senate that would require overdose victims to see a certified recovery specialist will do good. Harrisburg

“Pennsylvania is being plagued by the current opioid epidemic and it is incumbent upon the legislature to try to make positive change,” Quin said. “Under the current Good Samaritan Law, overdose victims are not charged with any drug-related crimes, but unfortunately, they continue to fall into a cycle of continuous overdosing due to a lack of treatment. This legislation ensures the victims are receiving the treatment they so desperately need.”

The measure, House Bill 137, amends the Controlled Substance, Drug, Device and Cosmetic Act of 1972 so that any overdose victim who receives immunity through the Good Samaritan Law would be required to receive an assessment by a certified recovery specialist.

The bill passed the House last week by a 122 to 72 vote. Among the Delaware County delegation, it was split mostly along party lines. Quinn and state Rep. Stephen Barrar, R-160 of Upper Chichester approved it. State Reps. Dave Delloso, D-162 of Ridley Park, Brian Kirkland, D-159 of Chester, Leanne Krueger, D-161 of Nether Providence, Jennifer O’Mara, D-165 of Springfield, Greg Vitali, D-166 of Haverford and Mike Zabel, D-163 of Upper Darby opposed. State Rep. Margo Davidson, D-164 of Upper Darby, did not vote on the proposal.

Quinn said some of the opposition voiced concern that the Good Samaritan law was being altered.

He said if a person is overdosing and someone calls for help, there will not be any legal actions taken against them. What this does, he said, was that the person who is actually passed out and is having the Narcan administered to them is the one who will be required to see a certified re

covery specialist.

“I’ve been fighting to get the legislation passed since last session,” he said, adding that former state Rep. Jamie Santora of Upper Darby also helped pen the initial proposal.

He said there were

60,000 deaths in the United States related to opioids in 2016; 70,000 in

2017; and 72,000 in 2018. In Delaware County, so far the height of the scourge has been in 2016-2017 when the county was experiencing more than 200 deaths a year.

Quinn said comparatively, there were 58,000 deaths during the Vietnam

War.

“We have to do something,” he said. “It’s staggering.”

The representative said he worked with experts at MVP Recovery in Media to craft the language.

Similarly to the situation facing retail stores or restaurants, one of the biggest hurdles facing recovery specialists is getting “someone in the door in the first place.”

That’s where this bill comes in.

“At least it’s a step in the right direction,” Quinn said. This is putting someone on that first step. It introduces them to someone - someone who has already walked that path and has recovered.”

He said he had to do

something - he couldn’t sit idly by as the deaths grew in Delaware County, the state and nation.

“It’s about the numbers,” Quinn said. “How can you consciously stand there and do nothing?”

He said first responders shared their frustrations with him.

“(We) send first responders to treat these people (then, it’s) ‘You’re on your own, good luck,’” Quinn said.

HB 137 could potentially offer an alternative through the system.

“For me personally, I’m thrilled that we’re taking a step in the right direction,” Quinn said. “Up to this point, you’re looking at tragic death after tragic death. To a large extent, these are victims.”