Congressman Bill Keating Files Naloxone Bill

There's bipartisan legislation on Capitol Hill that would encourage physicians to co-prescribe the life-saving drug naloxone, otherwise known as narcan, alongside opioid prescriptions.

The bill was filed by Mass. Congressman Bill Keating and Republican Rep. Keith Rothfus of Pennsylvania.

Keating tells WBSM News, the bill could be a life-saver in the United States. "Eighty percent of the opioids in the world are used by citizens of the United States, even though we're only 5% of the population."  In Massachusetts, an estimated four people per day died from opioid overdoses.

Keating says the bill would also make grants available to state health departments to develop guidelines for doctors, and assist in the purchase of naloxone.

Keating says he believes the Obama administration is committed to reducing opioid related overdoses. The President has included more than a $1 billion in next years budget to battle the nationwide crisis.