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TNSAM Urges Governor Lee to Sign Legislation Expanding Naloxone Access
On March 23rd, the Tennessee Society of Addiction Medicine (TNSAM) sent a letter urging Governor Bill Lee to sign SB 2572 into law. This legislation would increase the availability of naloxone by both prescription and standing order. Specifically, it would allow municipal, county, and non-governmental health organizations to easily acquire, store, and distribute naloxone.
Tennessee is experiencing a historic number of overdose deaths, necessitating urgent action from elected officials. In the letter, TNSAM highlighted enhanced naloxone accessibility as an evidence-based harm reduction strategy. According to a vast array of research, greater naloxone availability is linked to fewer overdose deaths. Research also shows that expanded naloxone distribution is a cost-effective public health strategy. TNSAM emphasized these data points as likely benefits of individuals and community organizations having easier access to naloxone under the provisions of SB 2572. Additionally, TNSAM noted that SB 2572 received overwhelming bipartisan support from the General Assembly, affirming that the bill is a commonsense step forward to save lives and mitigate the opioid epidemic in Tennessee.