The Kentucky Senate has passed a bill that aims to fix the state’s heroin problem.
The Senate voted 36 to zero on to charge drug dealers with homicide if users die from an overdose, to provide immunity to “Good Samaritans” who seek medical attention for overdose victims, and to increase funding for treatment efforts.
Lawmakers heard testimony from Eric Specht, who founded the anti-heroin group ‘North Kentucky Hates Heroin’ last year after his son Nicolas died from an overdose.
“I found our son in our bathroom, and, if I had had naloxone, he could very well be here today. I might not have to be down here to deal with any of this.”
Specht told lawmakers that the bill’s expansion of treatment options would have helped his son.
"There is nothing like being a parent and your child comes to you and says 'I need help' and you can't offer it to them because there's just nowhere to send your kid for long-term treatment."
The bill has bipartisan support, and now heads to the House.
