EXECUTIVE ORDER
17-19

WHEREAS, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has declared a national opioid epidemic, which poses a grave danger to Missouri; and

WHEREAS, Missouri is facing a public health crisis of epidemic proportions from the unlawful distribution and misuse of opioids ("Opioid Public Health Crisis"); and

WHEREAS, Missouri's Opioid Public Health Crisis is impacting Missouri families and communities every day. It is estimated that two Missourians die from narcotic overdose and two babies are born with narcotic withdrawal every day somewhere in Missouri; and

WHEREAS, in 2016, more than 900 Missourians died from an opioid overdose; and

WHEREAS, deaths that are the result of opioid overdose are preventable; and

WHEREAS, section 190.255, RSMo, allows emergency responders, including law enforcement, fire department and fire district personnel, and licensed emergency medical technicians, to obtain and administer naloxone, an opioid antagonist, to people suffering from opiate-related overdoses; and

WHEREAS, when emergency responders and law enforcement are equipped with and properly trained on the use of opioid antagonists, they can save lives.

NOW THEREFORE, I, ERIC R. GREITENS, GOVERNOR OF THE STATE OF MISSOURI, by virtue of the authority vested in me by the Constitution and laws of the State of Missouri, hereby declare, order, and direct the following:

  1. It shall be the policy of the Executive Branch of the State of Missouri to identify, train, and equip law enforcement, fire department and fire district personnel, and licensed emergency medical technicians to save lives during opiate-related overdose events by using opioid antagonists. The Executive Branch shall also assess the impact of greater training and equipment for law enforcement, fire department and fire district personnel, and licensed emergency medical technicians to ensure the greatest results.
  2. Identify. The Department of Health and Senior Services ("DHSS"), the Department of Mental Health ("DMH"), the Department of Public Safety ("DPS"), the Department of Natural Resources ("DNR"), and the Department of Conservation ("MDC") shall work together to identify the law enforcement officers, fire department and fire district personnel, and licensed emergency medical technicians who currently have the greatest need for opioid antagonists.
  3. Train. DHSS, DMH, DPS, DNR, and MDC shall train law enforcement, fire department and fire district personnel, and licensed emergency medical technicians to recognize an opiate-related overdose, respond to an overdose event, and save lives by administering opioid antagonists.
  4. Equip. DHSS, DMH, DPS, DNR, and MDC shall use every available State and federal dollar to equip and train law enforcement, fire department and fire district personnel, and licensed emergency medical technicians to use life-saving opioid antagonists.
  5. Assess. DHSS, DMH, DPS, DNR, and MDC shall partner with the Missouri State Highway Patrol, the Missouri Police Chiefs Association, the Missouri Sheriffs' Association, and any other law enforcement or first responder entity to develop standard procedures to increase the reporting of overdose events to the MO-HOPE Project, a partnership between DMH, the Missouri Institute for Mental Health - University of Missouri St. Louis, and the National Council on Alcoholism and Drug Abuse, which tracks overdoses. The Departments shall use the overdose data to:
    1. Ensure that law enforcement, fire department and fire district personnel, and licensed emergency medical technicians most likely to respond to opioid overdose events continue to be trained and equipped to administer opioid antagonists and respond to overdose events;
    2. Develop future programs;
    3. Obtain additional funding from grants; and
    4. Assess and strengthen efforts to combat Missouri's Opioid Public Health Crisis.

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand and caused to be affixed the Great Seal of the State of Missouri, in the City of Jefferson, on this 18th day of July, 2017.

[Eric R. Greitens's signature]
Eric R. Greitens
Governor

ATTEST:

[Jay Ashcroft's signature]
John R. Ashcroft
Secretary of State

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