HB624 Alabama 2014 Session

Summary

Primary Sponsor

Allen TreadawayRepresentative

Republican

Session

Regular Session 2014

Title

Drug overdoses, drugs to counteract effects of, physician or dentist authorized to prescribe and persons authorized to administer, alcohol consumption by minors assisting others, immune from liability

Summary

HB624 would let doctors and dentists prescribe naloxone to people at risk of an opiate overdose or to those who can help, provide immunity to prescribers and to those who administer it, and offer limited protection for certain underage alcohol-related actions when help is sought for someone else.

What This Bill Does

The bill allows licensed physicians or dentists to prescribe an opioid antagonist (naloxone) to someone at risk of an overdose or to a person who can assist; it grants immunity from civil and criminal liability to the prescriber and to anyone who administers naloxone under the bill; and it provides immunity from prosecution for possession or consumption of alcohol for under-21 individuals who seek medical help for another person under specific conditions. It also defines naloxone and includes requirements like good faith prescribing and basic instructions for use.

Who It Affects

• Physicians and dentists who prescribe naloxone under the bill would be protected from civil or criminal liability when acting in good faith.
• Individuals at risk of an opiate overdose or those in a position to assist them, and anyone who administers naloxone in good faith, would also be protected from civil or criminal liability under the bill (and under-21 individuals who seek medical help for someone else may have alcohol-related protections if conditions are met).

Key Provisions

• Opioid antagonist defined as naloxone hydrochloride approved by the FDA for treating overdose.
• Licensed physicians or dentists may prescribe naloxone to an at-risk individual or to someone in a position to assist an at-risk individual, including via standing orders.
• Prescribers and anyone who administers naloxone under the bill are immune from civil or criminal liability for their actions.
• If prescribing, a good-faith basis may be documented (written information supporting risk) and basic instruction on how to administer must be provided.
• An individual receiving naloxone may administer it to another in good faith if they believe an overdose is occurring and they exercise reasonable care.
• Under-21 immunity: individuals under 21 who seek medical help for another person may avoid prosecution for possession or consumption of alcohol under certain conditions (act in good faith, use their own name, stay with the person until help arrives).
• Effective date: the act would become law on the first day of the third month after passage and approval.

AI-generated summary using openai/gpt-5-nano on Feb 24, 2026. May contain errors — refer to the official bill text for accuracy.

Subjects

Drugs