Lapid files bill institutionalizing drug overdose reporting system
Senator Manuel “Lito” Lapid has filed a bill institutionalizing a system of reporting for persons who died of drug overdose.
In filing Senate Bill No. 1498, Lapid emphasized the importance of gathering information on drug overdose trends to effectively address the issue on drug overdose.
The bill identifies drug overdose as ingestion or application of a drug or other substance in quantities greater than the prescribed or recommended dose.
“Drug overdose can be accidental overdoses or intentional misuse. The former occurs when a person consumes a drug by accident or in error,” Lapid said in the explanatory note of his bill.
“On the other hand, the latter occurs when a person consumers a drug for its desired effect—it could be to get hight, to harm oneself, or similar reasons. Drug overdose can cause serious adverse consequences and even death,” he said.
Lapid said drug overdose, “whether accidental or intentional, can be prevented” and its unintended side effects or even life-threatening symptoms consequences can be avoided.
Under the bill, the Department of Health (DOH) Secretary will be mandated to publish a bi-annual findings on nationwide drug overdose trends that reviews overdose death rates and other information to check changes in the caues and rates of fatal drug overdoses.
“With this, necessary information will be gathered that would lead to formulation of proper and strategies to be undertaken to effectively address the issue on drug overdose,” he said.