State agencies support the law that allows police, firefighters and others to administer naloxone, a drug that reverses opioid overdoses.

"Generally, we are supportive of legislative efforts aimed to prevent heroin and other opioid-related overdose deaths by expanding access to naloxone (or Narcan) for concerned third parties, in conjunction with appropriate training," said state Department of Health spokeswoman Holli Senior.Currently, the only two programs in the state training nonmedical people to use naloxone are Prevention Point needle exchange clinics in Philadelphia and Pittsburgh.The Pennsylvania Emergency Health Services Council "supports the increased access to naloxone in cases of an opioid overdose through the creation of a naloxone training and administration program targeting individuals who wish to offer this program in their community and who are commonly in a position to initiate an early response to this medical emergency. These individuals would include emergency medical responders, emergency medical technicians, advanced emergency medical technicians, law enforcement officers and fire service personnel," the statement says.The American Medical Association in June 2012 endorsed wider availability of naloxone.At least one chain pharmacy has already begun to offer naloxone to virtually anyone who asks."CVS pharmacy is currently offering Narcan without a prescription in all of our pharmacies in Rhode Island through a collaborative practice agreement with a physician in Rhode Island," said CVS spokesman Mike DeAngelis. "We hope to have similar programs in other states in the future, but at this time we have no announcement for a program in Pennsylvania or other states. However, all of our pharmacies nationwide can order and then dispense Narcan when a prescription for this medication is presented."CVS offers the drug through a "collaborative practice agreement with a physician in Rhode Island, which allows the medication to be dispensed without a patient needing to present a prescription for it. This agreement was approved by the state's Department of Health," DeAngelis said.Although the legislation is poised to be signed into law by Gov. Tom Corbett, the Pitcairn Police Department in Allegheny County began carrying and using naloxone in August."People might think it's just for junkies, for heroin overdoses, but it's for opiate-based (drugs)," Pitcairn Police Chief Scott Farally is quoted as saying in an Aug. 21 story on TribLive.com. "It could help a child who accidentally takes medication; it could help an elderly person who has accidentally overdosed."