Pubdate: Thu, 20 Mar 2014
Source: Red and Black, The (U of Georgia, GA Edu)
Copyright: 2014 The Red and Black Publishing Co., Inc.
Contact:  http://www.redandblack.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/2800
Source: Red and Black, The (U of Georgia, GA Edu)
Author: Savannah Levins

GEORGIA WAITS ON DEAL TO PASS MEDICAL AMNESTY BILL INTO LAW

A new bill that would grant amnesty from certain drug charges for
those who seek help in the event of a drug overdose is now awaiting
Governor Nathan Deal's signature to be officially passed into law.

The bill passed the Georgia House of Representatives again last night
after the Senate approved it with a few amendments. The House approved
the amendments and now the bill sits on Governor Deal's desk, awaiting
it's passage into law.

Tanya Smith, a Holly Springs Georgia police lieutenant and mother,
said she has been an advocate for the bill ever since her 20-year-old
daughter overdosed on heroin.

"The people she was with were too afraid to call 911," Smith said. "So
they elected to let her die and dump her body the next morning."

Smith said that the bill would also make a life-saving drug called
naloxone more readily available. Naloxone is used to combat drug
overdoses, and was first introduced in hospitals when patients were
given too much anesthesia and showed symptoms of overdose.

"I saw it work in my own daughter in 2012 the first time she overdosed
on heroin," Smith said. "When I saw her I thought she was dead. And in
my work...I've seen a lot of dead people. But I saw her and thought
'this is it, I'm saying goodbye to my daughter.' But then they gave
her naloxone and she just sat right up. It was one of the most amazing
things I've ever seen in my life."

Ryan Jones, a junior media studies major from Alpharetta, said this
bill hits close to home.

"I personally know people who have overdosed and their friends just
called 911 and dipped out not knowing if he was going to live or not,"
he said. "They just left him for the ambulance to arrive. Left him for
dead. This bill is a really good idea and definitely should be passed."

James Holland, a senior biology major from Huntsville, Alabama, said
he agreed.

"This is going to save lives where before people wouldn't call in fear
of getting in trouble themselves," he said. "This alleviates that
problem so EMT's can do their job and save a life."

According to the Georgia Bureau of Investigation, there has been a
steady increase in the number of drug overdose deaths in Georgia.

In 2008, there were 638 total drug overdose deaths in the state. In
2011 there were 664, and by 2012 there were 686. In 2012, 171 of those
who died were between the ages of 15 and 34. 616 of those overdose
deaths were deemed "accidental."

Lieutenant Smith said she believes the bill is gaining popularity now
because the face of drugs is changing.

"Its not just the homeless man out on the street anymore, these are
good kids raised in good homes," she said. "We need to do something to
save these lives."
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