On behalf of the Indiana Firefighters Union, our organization would like to support an expansion

of the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) grant to cover
Naloxone, the lifesaving opioid overdose reversal.

Since 2014, EMT and law enforcement officers have operated on the front lines of the growing
drug epidemic by administering Naloxone and its intranasal form, Narcan. When an overdose is
called in, firefighters and EMTs act as the first responders. In rural communities, miles from the
local hospital, first responders are the only chance at life for those who have consumed a fatal
dose of an opioid. Therefore, the lives of victims fall in our hands.

Operating on the frontlines, our firefighters have been exposed to the deadly effects of opioid
dependence and have learned that most opioid overdoses occur at home. Therefore, it is
important for the general population to administer these life saving medications when we are
unable to in time. In an overdose situation, every second counts. This is especially the case as
Naloxone/Narcan should be given within minutes of the discovered overdose. The National
Institute of Drug Abuse (NIDA) studies have similarly confirmed that allowing access to
overdose reversal drugs has a significant impact on saving lives of opioid users.

Although our efforts have helped save over 100 Hoosier lives since 2015, we recognize the
need for increased access to life-saving drugs, especially in rural and medically underserved
areas.

Thank you for the opportunity to share our perspective on this widespread and devastating
illness.

Best,

Indiana Firefighters Union