The opioid epidemic is raging across Pennsylvania, leaving a path of destruction and hurting families, friends and our communities in its wake. The negative impacts are bleeding into our neighborhoods, schools and businesses. As a public school teacher, and the wife of a law enforcement officer, I have a front-row seat to the devastation caused to families.

The development and wide distribution of Narcan has been a lifesaving development in our bid to turn the tide of the opioid crisis. But it is not the silver bullet solution that some believe it to be. Narcan can’t address the deadly effects of some synthetic opioids—which is problematic since synthetic opioids are on the rise. However, new overdose reversal agents that better address synthetic opioids have been developed and approved by the FDA. 

It is so frustrating that our state officials continue to push a Narcan-only policy when it comes to overdose reversal agents. The Shapiro administration needs to update the state’s standing health order to allow first responders and those on the front lines to use all overdose reversal agents. 

If we really want to make headway against the opioid epidemic, we need an all-hands-on-deck approach. Pennsylvania needs to move away from the narrow state policy that has been the status quo for years and embrace the new scientific advancements that have developed additional overdose reversal options. It’s time for the commonwealth to expand access to all federally approved opioid overdose reversal agents. Saving a life is worth it.

Shelli Bird
Monroe County, PA