WEST CHESTER, PA — State Rep. Chris Pielli today unveiled a two-bill legislative package aimed at expanding access to overdose reversal drugs as Pennsylvania continues to grapple with a deadly opioid crisis dominated by fentanyl.
Pielli, a Democrat representing Chester County, said the proposal would allow the over-the-counter use of nalmefene, an opioid antagonist approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration in 2023 but not currently authorized for use in Pennsylvania outside limited settings.
The push comes amid sobering statistics. In 2023, 4,719 people in Pennsylvania died from opioid-related overdoses, with nearly 77 percent of those deaths involving fentanyl, according to figures cited by Pielli. He said the potency and duration of synthetic opioids like fentanyl can outlast naloxone, the most commonly used overdose reversal drug, increasing the risk of a secondary overdose once naloxone wears off.
“Naloxone is a crucial tool for first responders and law enforcement, but it should not be our only option,” Pielli said. He warned that as drug policy remains static, illicit drug markets continue to evolve, often with fatal consequences.
Under the proposal, House Bill 2181 would amend the Controlled Substance Drug, Device, and Cosmetic Act to recognize nalmefene as an approved opioid antagonist for over-the-counter use. A companion measure, House Bill 2182, would direct the Pennsylvania Department of Health to revise its standing order to include nalmefene as an authorized opioid reversal agent available without a prescription.
Currently, the Department of Health’s standing order allows for the distribution and use of naloxone but does not include nalmefene, despite its federal approval. Pielli said adding another option could give first responders, law enforcement officers, and families a critical additional tool to prevent overdose deaths.
The bills are expected to be referred to committee following formal introduction in the Pennsylvania House.
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