Delaware County this morning will take a huge step in the war on the deadly uptick in heroin overdose deaths.
District Attorney Jack Whelan will hold a press conference to announce implementation of a key feature of "David's Law," which was passed by the Legislature earlier this fall and signed by Gov. Tom Corbett.
Whelan will be joined by law enforcement officials from across the region in laying out plans to put nasal naloxone, commonly known as Narcan, in the hands of Delaware County police officer.
Naloxone reverse the effects of a heroin or opioid oversose.
The other aspect of the law is a a stipulation that provides limited immunity for someone who alerts authorities to a person suffering from an OD.
Rose Quinn reported all the details of the new law in the Sunday Times. The law is referred to as David’s Law, named in memory of David John Massi II of Upper Chichester who died on Jan. 27, 2013, at the age of 27 of a heroin overdose.
Whelan will be joined by Sen. Dominic Pileggi, R-9, of Chester, who pushed the David's Law through the Legislature; Delaware County Council, Lynne Massi, aunt of David, who started the push for the law; Delaware County Police Chiefs and EMS, Gary Tennis, secretary of the state Department of Drug and Alcohol, and members of the Delaware County Heroin Task Force.
I also have been invited to the press conference because of the work the Daily Times did in highlighting the new heroin problem in the county, as well as the push for David's Law.
I've never been prouder of anything we've done.
This law, and putting this drug in the hands of first responders, will save lives.
It comes too late for David Massi, but through the tireless work of those who knew and loved him, it likely will prevent another family from suffering a similar heartache.
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