ORSAM Supports Major Harm Reduction Legislation

On March 6th, the Oregon Society of Addiction Medicine (ORSAM) sent a letter to the Senate Committee on Health Care in support of HB 2395-A. This legislation includes provisions that would enhance naloxone access, expand Good Samaritan legal protections, exempt fentanyl test strips from drug paraphernalia classification, and allow bulk purchases of naloxone.

In the letter, ORSAM emphasized that the harm reduction provisions of HB 2395-A are evidenced-based. They are proven to reduce the harms associated with opioid use and substance use. Specifically, ORSAM cited statistics indicating that states who implement policies improving naloxone access experience a subsequent reduction in overdose deaths. Further, ORSAM noted fentanyl test strips are important tool to reduce overdose deaths. Research indicates that use of fentanyl test strips is associated with positive changes in substance use behavior and desire to seek treatment. Overall, ORSAM praised HB 2395-A as a positive step to address the overdose epidemic in Oregon.

Read the letter here.