24:6J-5.1 Provision of certain information to victims of opioid overdoses; definitions.

1. a. If an opioid antidote is administered by a health care professional or a first responder to a person experiencing a drug overdose, information concerning substance abuse treatment programs and resources including information on the availability of opioid antidotes shall be provided to the person as follows:

(1) If the person is admitted to a health care facility or receives treatment in the emergency department of a health care facility, a staff member designated by the health care facility, who may be a social worker, addiction counselor, or other appropriate professional, shall provide the information to the person at any time after treatment for the drug overdose is complete , but prior to the person's discharge from the facility. The designated staff member shall document the provision of the information in the person's medical record, and may , in collaboration with an appropriate health care professional, additionally develop an individualized substance abuse treatment plan for the person.

(2) If the opioid antidote is administered by a first responder and the person experiencing the overdose is not subsequently transported to a health care facility, the first responder shall provide the information to the person at the time treatment for the drug overdose is complete.

b. As used in this section:

"First responder" means a law enforcement officer, paid or volunteer firefighter, paid or volunteer member of a duly incorporated first aid, emergency, ambulance, or rescue squad association, or any other individual who, in the course of that individual's employment, is dispatched to the scene of an emergency situation for the purpose of providing medical care or other assistance.

"Health care facility" means a health care facility licensed pursuant to P.L.1971, c.136 (C.26:2H-1 et seq.).

c. The Commissioner of Human Services shall develop informational materials concerning substance abuse treatment programs and resources and information on the availability of opioid antidotes for dissemination to health care professionals and first responders to facilitate the provision of information to patients pursuant to this section.

L.2017, c.285, s.1.