On February 28th, the Kentucky Society of Addiction Medicine (KYSAM) sent a letter to members of the Senate Judiciary Committee expressing concern with HB 5. This legislation enhances criminal penalties for the distribution of fentanyl and its analogues.

In the letter, KYSAM expressed concern with selected provisions of the legislation. Specifically, KYSAM reasoned that HB 5 as written could cause a chilling effect for legitimate medical prescriptions. As such, KYSAM urged lawmakers to clarify that medical professionals acting in the usual course of medical practice are exempt from this provision of the bill. Further, KYSAM warned that HB 5 could undermine the state’s Good Samaritan law and dissuade individuals from calling emergency medical services (EMS) in cases of overdose. In turn, KYSAM encouraged lawmakers to change their focus. KYSAM urged lawmakers to strengthen the state’s Good Samaritan law and invest in expanding accessibility of evidence-based treatment for addiction, rather than pursuing criminalization.

Read the letter here.