State Rep. Kathy Rapp wants the commonwealth to be proactive rather than reactive in its approval of opioid overdose reversal drugs.

We agree.

In 2014, the state Legislature enacted Act 139 which allowed law enforcement agencies, fire departments, and fire companies to give naloxone when someone is having an opioid-related drug overdose. That access was expanded to other overdose reversal drugs in 2022.

Rapp said she was moved to begin drafting her legislation after the U.S. Food and Drug Administration approved Zurnai, the first nalmefene hydrochloride auto-injector for the emergency treatment of known or suspected opioid overdose in adults and pediatric patients 12 years of age and older.

The agency approved the first nasal spray formulation of nalmefene in May 2023. The medication can’t yet be used in Pennsylvania.

One of the problems with having legislative approval needed for new medications as they emerge means Pennsylvania can lag when it comes to putting federally approved medications into the hands of those who need them. Our county, region and commonwealth are fighting a multiple front war against drug addiction – and one of those fights is to get potentially life-saving medication out to the public quickly.

We need to see what’s in Rapp’s legislation and the approach it uses before giving our full-throated support, but we agree with Rapp’s intent.

It’s important for Pennsylvania to remain ahead of the game when it comes to overdose reversal medications.