CALL TODAY TO SAVE LIVES AND COMBAT DRUG OVERDOSE! - LR 2626 and the Legislative Council

[Kenney Miller]

Hello Harm Reductionists!

Your calls and emails to the Legislative Council in October made a huge difference. LR 2626: An Act to Address Preventable Deaths from Drug Overdose was ONE vote short of being accepted into the January session of the Legislature. But we have ONE MORE CHANCE to get this bill included. ONE MORE CHANCE to convince ONE MORE MEMBER of the Legislative Council.

Your call could make the difference. So call today!

LR 2626: An Act to Address Preventable Deaths from Drug Overdose was advanced by Representative Sara Gideon of Freeport. Among other things this bill would increase access to Naloxone, a drug that temporarily counters the effects of an opiate overdose. LR 2626 would allow for greater prescription, distribution and use of Naloxone, enabling people to receive emergency medical services before it was too late.

Between 2001 and 2010 deaths due to pharmaceutical or illicit drug use rose by 85%. More Maine people died from prescription drug overdose than car accidents in 2008, 2009 and 2010. And with a recent surge in heroin use we can expect this number to continue to rise.

On Thursday (November 21st) the Legislative Council will review our appeal of their ruling on LR 2626 and determine once and for all if it should be accepted into January's session of the Legislature. Unexpectedly, last month the bill lacked the Democratic support it needed to get into the session. As a result the bill was one vote shy of getting in.

We cannot let that happen again. Let the Democrats know that you were surprised and disappointed that you could not count on their vote. Let them know that this bill will save lives. That it represents sound public health policy, and that it will help to curve an epidemic of overdose deaths that has reached emergency proportions.

Call or email TODAY to tell Council members that this bill is urgent and deserves to be heard. Call today to save lives and combat drug overdose deaths.

Attached you'll find talking points and an elevator speech concerning LR 2626 as well as some additional information on drug use and Naloxone. Click this link for a list of the members of the Legislative Council and their contact information. And when you've called, email me to let me know!

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Kenney Miller
Executive Director
Down East AIDS Network
25A Pine St.
Ellsworth, ME 04605

Ph: (207) 667-3506
Fax: (207) 664-0574


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