A bill to require ER doctors and pharmacists submit information to DHEC when an overdose reversal drug is administered, unanimously passed in the South Carolina house.
Lawmakers say this will provide other medical professionals with crucial information as once the information is submitting to DHEC, it can be placed in the Prescription Drug Monitoring System.
So far in 2019, Myrtle Beach Fire first responders have administered Narcan 24 times. Three years ago, Narcan was administered 238 times. That figure dropped into the 140s for 2017 and 2018.
Lieutenant Jonathan Evans with Myrtle Beach Fire Rescue says he believes the decline is because of the increased education to the public, the increasing number of places that administer Narcan and the department’s partnership in the COPE Program.
“Paramedics out with the police department and DHEC to do a wellness check after that person comes back from the hospital,” Evans said. “We talk about their health and what’s going on in their life, try to get them help if they want.”
