Senate enacts Baldacci bill to reduce overdose deaths by expanding EMS training for Narcan

AUGUSTA — On Thursday, May 11, the Maine Senate enacted a bill from Sen. Joe Baldacci, D-Bangor, with strong bipartisan support. The bill, LD 981, “An Act to Require All Emergency Medical Services Persons to Be Trained in the Dispensing of Naloxone Hydrochloride,” will require EMS personnel to be trained in how to administer Naloxone Hydrochloride, commonly referred to as Narcan.

“I am grateful that as a legislative body, we have taken a positive step forward in saving more lives across our state,” said Sen. Baldacci. “This training will ensure EMS personnel will have the proper training and dialogue regarding substance use disorder, and help countless Mainers across the state. I am grateful to all my colleague in the Senate for their support.”

LD 981 requires EMS personnel to be trained in how to administer Naloxone Hydrochloride, commonly referred to as Narcan, which is used to reverse an opioid overdose. The drug overdose epidemic in the United States has been an issue states have been battling for years. Back in 2019, drug overdoses were responsible for nearly 71,000 deaths across the United States. Last year, Maine experienced over 700 overdoses over the course of the year, with numbers beginning to climb again this year.

LD 981 will now go to the desk of Gov. Janet Mills, who has 10 days to sign the bill into law, veto it, or allow it to become law without her signature.