2016 Colorado Revised Statutes
Title 12 - Professions and Occupations
Health Care
Article 36 - Medical Practice
Part 1 - General Provisions
§ 12-36-117.7. Prescribing opiate antagonists - definitions

(1) A physician or physician assistant licensed pursuant to this article may prescribe or dispense, directly or in accordance with standing orders and protocols, an opiate antagonist to:

(a) An individual at risk of experiencing an opiate-related drug overdose event;

(b) A family member, friend, or other person in a position to assist an individual at risk of experiencing an opiate-related drug overdose event;

(c) An employee or volunteer of a harm reduction organization; or

(d) A first responder.

(2) A licensed physician or physician assistant who prescribes or dispenses an opiate antagonist pursuant to this section is strongly encouraged to educate persons receiving the opiate antagonist on the use of an opiate antagonist for overdose, including instruction concerning risk factors for overdose, recognizing an overdose, calling emergency medical services, rescue breathing, and administering an opiate antagonist.

(3) A licensed physician or physician assistant does not engage in unprofessional conduct pursuant to section 12-36-117 if the physician or physician assistant issues standing orders and protocols regarding opiate antagonists or prescribes or dispenses an opiate antagonist in a good-faith effort to assist:

(a) An individual who is at risk of experiencing an opiate-related drug overdose event;

(b) A family member, friend, or other person who is in a position to assist an individual who is at risk of experiencing an opiate-related drug overdose event; or

(c) A first responder or an employee or volunteer of a harm reduction organization in responding to, treating, or otherwise assisting an individual who is experiencing or is at risk of experiencing an opiate-related drug overdose event or a friend, family member, or other person in a position to assist an at-risk individual.

(4) A licensed physician or physician assistant who prescribes or dispenses an opiate antagonist in accordance with this section is not subject to civil liability or criminal prosecution, as specified in sections 13-21-108.7 (4) and 18-1-712 (3), C.R.S., respectively.

(5) This section does not establish a duty or standard of care regarding the prescribing, dispensing, or administering of an opiate antagonist.

(6) As used in this section:

(a) "First responder" means:

(I) A peace officer, as defined in section 16-2.5-101, C.R.S.;

(II) A firefighter, as defined in section 29-5-203 (10), C.R.S.; or

(III) A volunteer firefighter, as defined in section 31-30-1102 (9), C.R.S.

(b) "Harm reduction organization" means an organization that provides services, including medical care, counseling, homeless services, or drug treatment, to individuals at risk of experiencing an opiate-related drug overdose event or to the friends and family members of an at-risk individual.

(c) "Opiate" has the same meaning as set forth in section 18-18-102 (21), C.R.S.

(d) "Opiate antagonist" means naloxone hydrochloride or any similarly acting drug that is not a controlled substance and that is approved by the federal food and drug administration for the treatment of a drug overdose.

(e) "Opiate-related drug overdose event" means an acute condition, including a decreased level of consciousness or respiratory depression, that:

(I) Results from the consumption or use of a controlled substance or another substance with which a controlled substance was combined;

(II) A layperson would reasonably believe to be caused by an opiate-related drug overdose event; and

(III) Requires medical assistance.

(f) "Protocol" means a specific written plan for a course of medical treatment containing a written set of specific directions created by a physician, group of physicians, hospital medical committee, pharmacy and therapeutics committee, or other similar practitioners or groups of practitioners with expertise in the use of opiate antagonists.

(g) "Standing order" means a prescription order written by a physician or physician assistant that is not specific to and does not identify a particular patient.