S.A.O.R Project Education and Resources

Provides culturally and linguistically appropriate education to improve family members’, caregivers’, and the public’s understanding of evidence-based prevention, treatment, and recovery strategies for SUD/OUD, and to reduce stigma associated with the disease.

Alabama State Policies

• Syringe Possession & Distribution

  • Ala. Code § 13A-12-260

  • It is illegal to possess, use, sell, or deliver drug paraphernalia in the state of Alabama.

  • Syringes are considered drug paraphernalia if used, intended for use, or designed for use in injecting controlled substances into the body.

  • Possession or use of drug paraphernalia is a class A misdemeanor.

  • Delivery or sale; or possession/manufacture with intent to deliver or sell drug paraphernalia is a Class A misdemeanor for a first-time offense, with higher penalties for further offenses or for delivery to a minor.

  • A prescription is not required to possess a syringe, and state law does not regulate the retail sale of syringes.

  • There is no law authorizing syringe access programs.

• Naloxone Access Law

  • Ala. Code § 20-2-280

  • A physician may prescribe, directly or by standing order, and a pharmacist or registered nurse may give naloxone to a person at risk of overdose or a family member, friend, first responder, or other person able to help someone experiencing an overdose.

  • The prescriber may require a written explanation of why the person seeking naloxone needs it.

  • A prescriber or county health officer that prescribes naloxone or issues a standing order for naloxone, or a pharmacist or registered nurse who gives out naloxone, is immune from civil or criminal liability.

  • A person who administers naloxone in the good faith belief that the person receiving the naloxone is experiencing an overdose is immune from civil or criminal penalties, so long as they exercise reasonable care, including receiving basic instruction on how to use naloxone.

• Naloxone Standing Order

  • https://www.alabamapublichealth.gov/pharmacy/assets/naloxonestandingorder.pdf

  • The order permits pharmacists to give intranasal naloxone (either Narcan spray or generic atomizer), intramuscular naloxone, and auto-injector naloxone (like Evzio) to people who are at risk of overdose or are a friend, family member, or other person in the position to help in the case of an overdose. It also permits pharmacists to give naloxone to certain agencies or organizations.

  • Before getting naloxone under the standing order, a person must fill out a form explaining why they need it and whether they are at risk of overdose or are a friend, family member, or other person in the position to help in the case of an overdose. There is a separate form for agencies and organizations that want to get naloxone. If possible, a person seeking naloxone may want to download the standing order and form to bring to the pharmacy, in case the pharmacy does not have it. This form will be filed by the pharmacist like any other prescription.

  • Unlimited refills are allowed, but only one kit at a time will be given to an individual. Organizations can get more than one at a time.

• Good Samaritan Law

  • Ala. Code § 20-2-281

  • If at the scene of an emergency, a person acts in good faith under the reasonable belief that they were the first person to call for medical help, uses their own name when calling for help, and remains with the person who needed help until help arrives, they may not be prosecuted for a misdemeanor controlled substance offense if the only reason the police knew of the offense was because that person sought medical help for another person.

  • The law does not appear to provide any immunity for the person who overdosed.

  • This protection does not apply to violations of AL ST § 32-5A-191 , which prohibits drunk and drugged driving.