A Legislative Proposal for Epinephrine Accessibility within Public Settings for Combating Anaphylactic Reactions

Anaphylaxis is a severe, often life-threatening, allergic reaction that can occur due to multiple factors such as food, insect bites, medications, and more. Epinephrine, commonly in the form of an auto-injector, is used to combat the effects of anaphylaxis until first responders arrive. In the case anaphylaxis takes place, it is crucially important to administer the drug quickly to give the victim the best chance of survival. However, epinephrine can be costly and must be prescribed by a medical professional. To combat barriers that exist when attempting to obtain epinephrine, legislative change can potentially increase the accessibility of the rescue drug for those in need. Based on thorough research regarding epinephrine accessibility, we created a legislative proposal that mandates public businesses and institutions in the state of Arizona to hold emergency dosages of the drug. In addition to this proposal, a detailed program was included outlining the requirements and steps necessary for businesses and institutions to stock emergency epinephrine.