Mental Health Center First to Distribute Prescription Naloxone to Treatment Centers in Los Angeles at No Cost
Beverly Hills, CA (PRWEB) July 30, 2014 -- On January 1, 2014, the Overdose Treatment Act (AB 635) became law in California. The law allows lay people to possess and administer prescription naloxone to someone in urgent need who is experiencing life-threatening respiratory depression from an opiate overdose. Doctors may provide the prescription to the intended patient, a friend, family member, or to a member of the community at large without even having met the intended recipient. The Overdose Treatment Act provides legal protection to both the doctor and the lay person who administers the naloxone, like other Good Samaritan laws. Naloxone is a nonscheduled, non-addictive, and safe prescription medication. It can be safely administered by anyone who has received the simple instructions by a physician or certified trainer.
The Mental Health Center (MHC), located in the Cedars-Sinai Office Towers, has long since taken on the role of one of the leading addiction therapy and treatment organizations in Los Angeles with a full staff of physicians and psychotherapists specially trained in the latest advances in drug treatment and psychotherapy.
Under the guidance of a MHC physician, the staff or administrators of treatment centers and sober living facilities may learn how to properly administer Naloxone to their clients in the event of an opioid overdose and also receive a naloxone treatment kit. Medical Director of The Mental Health Center, Ellie Mizani, MD stated:
“We are proud to have served the addiction treatment community in Los Angeles over the last 7 years. We invite any facility that houses those recovering from drug addiction to join us in our mission to help our mutual clients literally obtain a new lease on life. With the passage of AB 635, naloxone and the training on how to use will be widely expanded, which could potentially save thousands of lives. Should the time to use naloxone arise, we want staff at treatment centers and sober living facilities to be prepared to administer the medication. With only a few hours of training and hands-on exercise, we feel comfortable that any lay person can prevent death by opioid overdose.”
California physicians won’t be the only ones aiding friends and families in saving lives. Similar laws expanding the use of naloxone in other states have passed legislation this year and the response has been widespread. New Jersey police officers are expected to receive training to administer the medication Naloxone in aerosol form. Other states are also equipping first responders with the life-saving medication.
For interested treatment and sober living centers, contact Rebecca at The Mental Health Center at (310) 494-0352 to schedule an appointment for your facility.
About The Mental Health Center: http://www.mentalhealthctr.com/
The Mental Health Center at Cedars-Sinai Medical Office Towers is a group of mental health professionals comprised of physicians and psychotherapists who use the latest evidence-based treatments to address a variety of mental health issues. A client’s treatment plan can include medications, psychotherapy, or both. The team is highly skilled in the screening, assessment, and treatment of depression, anxiety, insomnia, ADHD, addiction, and other mental health conditions.
Rebecca, The Mental Health Center, http://www.mentalhealthctr.com, +1 (310) 494-0352, [email protected]
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