South Dakota Department of Health Implements Naloxone for Business Program
The South Dakota Department of Health (DOH) has developed a program to allow businesses statewide to have life-saving Naloxone within their worksites to reverse opioid overdoses.
During the 2023 legislative session, HB1162 was passed into law allowing employers to acquire and make available on the employer’s premises an opioid antagonist that is dispensed or distributed by a licensed health care professional.
Over the last several months, DOH has been providing training as part of this program—this training is available on the DOH website. Employers must complete training and instruction and develop policies and protocols to have Naloxone on premise, per HB1162. Protective Naloxone boxes can be purchased online and function like an AED wall mounted box. Businesses are encouraged to have a designated point of contact for routine monitoring of the Naloxone to ensure it is not expired and to replace the supply when it’s been used.
As part of the program, DOH has also provided resources and materials for employers to train employees on proper storage, maintenance, and administration of the opioid antagonist. Resources of the Worksite Naloxone Policy and online training include:
-
-
-
- Signs and symptoms of an overdose;
- Safety precautions to consider;
- Definitions of an opioid and its effects on the body;
- Explanation of Naloxone and how it works;
- Administering Naloxone safely; and
- Activation of emergency services.
-
-
The department is rolling this out statewide to all offices and partnering with the Department of Social Services to provide additional training and resources for their staff and office buildings. Naloxone boxes have also been deployed throughout the State Capitol Building as part of this initiative.
For more information on the Naloxone for Business Program, please visit the DOH website.
