A recording of a recent Medical Association of Georgia (MAG) ‘Top Docs Radio’ show that addressed naloxone and the state’s ‘9-1-1 Medical Amnesty Law’ is now available online.
The show featured MAG Foundation ‘Think About It’ campaign Community Chair Dallas Gay and Shonali Saha, M.D., who is an adolescent medicine and addiction medicine physician with the Georgia Behavioral Health Professionals practice in Smyrna.
Naloxone is an effective, non-addictive prescription medication that reverses the effects of opioid drug overdoses. Under Georgia’s 9-1-1 Medical Amnesty Law, naloxone can be delivered on an intranasal or intramuscular basis. Physicians in Georgia can prescribe naloxone via a standing order to a person who is at risk of experiencing an opioid overdose. And at their discretion, physicians can prescribe naloxone to pain management clinics, first responders, harm reduction organizations, or family members or friends or other people who are in a position to assist a patient who is at risk of experiencing an opioid overdose.
The 9-1-1 Medical Amnesty Law provides limited immunity for individuals who possess certain drugs and drug paraphernalia when they experience a drug overdose and are in need of medical care, for people who seek medical care for a person who is experiencing a drug overdose, and for certain underage drinking offenses for minors who seek medical care during an alcohol overdose.
MAG sponsors the ‘Top Docs’ program at 12 p.m. on the second and fourth Tuesday of every month.
Between downloads and live listeners, MAG’s ‘Top Docs’ show has reached some 4,000 listeners – which includes people in 47 states and 69 countries.
Click to listen to the ‘Top Docs’ recording
MAG members can contact MAG Legal Counsel Trish Yeatts with questions related to Georgia’s 9-1-1 Medical Amnesty Law.