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ARIZONA STATE SENATE
Fifty-Seventh Legislature, Second Regular Session
expired opioid antagonists; use
Purpose
Expands the types of opioid antagonists that may be dispensed and administered.
Background
A pharmacist, physician, nurse practitioner or any other health professional may dispense or administer naloxone hydrochloride or any other opioid antagonist approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to any person at risk of experiencing an opioid-related overdose. A person also may administer an opioid antagonist that is prescribed or dispensed in accordance with protocol specified by a pharmacist, physician, nurse practitioner and any other health professional or that is received from a county health department to a person who is experiencing an opioid-related overdose. A health professional or individual who administers or dispense an opioid antagonist in good faith is granted immunity from civil, professional or criminal liability, as applicable, for the action (A.R.S. §§ 32-1979; 36-2266; and 36-2267).
Additionally, a city, town, county or nongovernmental organization operating an overdose and disease prevention program may have: 1) access to kits that contain naloxone hydrochloride or any other opioid antagonist that is approved by the FDA to treat a drug overdose; or 2) referrals to programs that provide access to naloxone hydrochloride or any other opioid antagonist that is approved by the FDA to treat a drug overdose (A.R.S. § 36-798.51).
There is no anticipated fiscal impact to the state General Fund associated with this legislation.
Provisions
Opioid Antagonists
1. Allows a pharmacist, physician, nurse practitioner or any other health professional to provide, without compensation, a kit containing naloxone hydrochloride or any other opioid antagonist that is approved by the FDA, including expired opioid antagonists, for treating a person who is at risk of experiencing or who is experiencing an opioid-related overdose.
2. Authorizes county health departments to provide a kit containing an expired opioid antagonist that is approved by the FDA for treating a person who is at risk of experiencing or who is experiencing an opioid-related overdose.
3. Requires a city, town, county or nongovernmental organization's overdose and disease prevention program to have:
a) access to kits that that contain expired opioid antagonists that are approved by the FDA to treat a drug overdose; and
b) referrals to programs that provide access to any expired opioid antagonists that are approved by the FDA to treat a drug overdose.
4. Allows a person to administer an opioid antagonist, including any expired opioid antagonist, regardless if prescribed or dispensed in accordance with a protocol specified by a physician, nurse practitioner, pharmacist or other health professional or that is received from a county health department.
Immunity
5. Grants a pharmacist, physician, nurse practitioner or any other health professional who dispenses or administers any expired opioid antagonist from civil, criminal, and professional liability if acting with reasonable care and good faith.
6. Grants any person who administers any expired opioid antagonist, in good faith and without compensation, to a person who is experiencing an opioid-related overdose from liability for any civil or other damages as a result of the act or failure to act for further medical treatment or care, unless acting with gross negligence, wilful misconduct or intentional wrongdoing.
Miscellaneous
7. Defines expired opioid antagonist as an opioid antagonist that is no more than three years past its marked expiration date.
8. Makes conforming changes.
9. Becomes effective on the general effective date.
House Action
HHS 2/16/26 DPA 12-0-0-0
3rd Read 3/4/26 51-2-6-0-1
Prepared by Senate Research
March 23, 2026
JT/HD/ci