New bill would require bars, nightclubs to carry life-saving overdose treatment

HONOLULU (HawaiiNewsNow) - City Councilmembers are considering a bill that would require high-risk venues like bars and nightclubs to carry life-saving overdose treatment Narcan in an effort to tackle Hawaii’s ongoing opioid crisis.

Honolulu Council Member Tyler Dos Santos-Tam introduced Bill 28 Wednesday.

The measure comes as the FDA has approved Narcan for over-the-counter use, calling it a “dire public need.”

Dos Santos-Tam is working with the DOH and the city in hopes of providing businesses with doses.

“If you have a patron who does something off site but happens to come into your business ... we’re helping to reduce the risk of something bad happening to these businesses,” said Dos Santos-Tam.

Given in time, Narcan blocks the brain from the effects of opioids like heroin and fentanyl.

The FDA is encouraging the manufacturer to make Narcan affordable as the country battles an overdose epidemic.

Narcan is expected to be available over-the-counter by late summer.

“As we’ve been seeing across the mainland, fentanyl is becoming a gigantic issue and getting into all sorts of things so this will allow us to you know help protect our customers and protect our community,” said Robbie Baldwin owner of Scarlet Honolulu.

If Bill 28 passes, it would go into effect on New Year’s Day.

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