Learn the Laws

This law allows a nonprofit organization with experience operating a syringe exchange program or a health facility licensed or certified by the state to operate a syringe exchange program without prior approval from the Board of Health. Prior to operating a syringe exchange program, a nonprofit organization or health facility needs to:

• Consult with interested stakeholders annually.

• Report to the state health department each year to specify the nonprofit organizations or health facility number of syringe access episodes in the previous year and the number of used syringes collected by the facility.

Participants, volunteers, and staff are exempt from the provisions of paraphernalia laws, C.R.S. §18-18-425 to 18-18-430, when they are associated with an approved syringe exchange program created pursuant to this law.

Syringe exchange program participants are exempt from drug paraphernalia laws, C.R.S. §18-18-425 through 18-18-430. Pharmacists or pharmacy technicians who sell non-prescription syringes are also exempt pursuant to section 12-280-123 (4).

The 911 Good Samaritan Law states that a person is immune from criminal prosecution for an offense when the person reports, in good faith, an emergency drug or alcohol overdose event to a law enforcement officer, to the 911 system, or to a medical provider. This same immunity applies to persons who remain at the scene of the event until a law enforcement officer or an emergency medical responder arrives or if the person remains at the facilities of the medical provider until a law enforcement officer, emergency medical responder, or medical provider arrives. The immunity described above also extends to the person who suffered the emergency drug or alcohol overdose event.

This law allows for a person other than a health care provider or health care facility who acts in good faith to administer naloxone, including expired naloxone, to another person whom the person believes to be suffering an opiate-related drug overdose. The individual who administers naloxone shall be immune from criminal prosecution for such an act.

This law concerns the ability to furnish a supply of emergency drugs for purposes of treating individuals who may experience an opiate-related overdose event. Licensed prescribers may prescribe, and licensed dispensers may dispense, an opiate antagonist, either pursuant to a direct prescriber order or in accordance with standing orders and protocols.

This law allows for an exception to arrest and filing charges for the crime of possession of drug paraphernalia if the person, prior to being searched by a law enforcement officer, informs the officer that the person has a needle, syringe, or other sharp objects on the person or in their vehicle or home that is subject to a search. The exception to arrest and filing charges also applies to the crime of possession of a controlled substance as it relates to any residual controlled substance that may be found in a used needle, syringe, or other sharp object.

This law requires health insurance carriers to reimburse a hospital if the facility provides a covered person with naloxone upon discharge.

This law requires a pharmacist to notify an individual dispensed an opioid about the availability of naloxone when there would be benefit based on the pharmacist’s judgment. Allows a pharmacist or pharmacy technician to sell a nonprescription syringe or needle to any person.