For purposes of this chapter:
(1) "Caregiver" means a person who is not at risk of an opioid overdose but who, in the judgment of a physician, may be in a position to assist another individual during an overdose and who has received patient overdose information as required by Section 44-130-30 on the indications for and administration of an opioid antidote.
(2) "Community distributor" means an organization, either public or private, which provides substance use disorder assistance and services, such as counseling, homeless services, advocacy, harm reduction, alcohol and drug screening, and treatment to individuals at risk of experiencing an opioid-related overdose.
(3) "Department" means the Department of Health and Environmental Control.
(4) "Drug overdose" means an acute condition including, but not limited to, physical illness, coma, mania, hysteria, or death resulting from the consumption or use of a controlled substance or other substance with which a controlled substance was combined and that a layperson would reasonably believe to require medical assistance.
(5) "First responder" means an emergency medical services provider, a law enforcement officer, or a fire department worker directly engaged in examining, treating, or directing persons during an emergency.
(6) "Medical assistance" means professional medical services that are provided to a person experiencing a drug overdose.
(7) "Opioid antidote" means naloxone hydrochloride or other similarly acting drug approved by the United States Food and Drug Administration for the treatment of an opioid overdose.
(8) "Pharmacist" means an individual licensed pursuant to Chapter 43, Title 40 to engage in the practice of pharmacy.
(9) "Prescriber" means a physician licensed pursuant to Chapter 47, Title 40, an advanced practice registered nurse licensed pursuant to Chapter 33, Title 40 and prescribing in accordance with the requirements of that chapter, and a physician assistant licensed pursuant to Article 7, Chapter 47, Title 40 and prescribing in accordance with the requirements of that article.
HISTORY: 2015 Act No. 54 (H.3083), Section 1, eff June 3, 2015; 2018 Act No. 169 (H.4600), Section 2, eff May 3, 2018.
Effect of Amendment
2018 Act No. 169, Section 2, inserted (2), relating to the definition of "Community distributor", and redesignated (2) to (8) as (3) to (9).