Senator Pushes To Equip More Police With Opiate Antidote

ST. PAUL, Minn. (AP) — A state lawmaker whose daughter died of a heroin overdose wants to expand access to a lifesaving antidote.

Naloxone hydrochloride can counteract an opiate overdose if it's administered soon enough. It's also called Narcan.

The Legislature unanimously passed a law last year allowing first responders to carry Narcan. But Sen. Chris Eaton says not enough police officers have the treatment or are trained to use it.

A Senate panel on Monday passed a pair of bills to change that. Eaton's legislation provides $3 million to distribute more naloxone statewide. Another bill provides grants for training.

The Brooklyn Center Democrat's daughter died in 2007 of a heroin overdose. She says heroin addiction is an epidemic.

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