In trying to save the life of someone who has overdosed on heroin or other opioids, time is of the essence. That’s why House Bill 2217 should be approved by the Kansas Legislature.

HB 2217 would allow first responders to administer opioid antagonists to people experiencing overdose symptoms instead of waiting until the patient is transported to an emergency room to be treated. The House unanimously approved the bill last week. The Senate should follow suit when it returns from break next week.

Nationally, heroin overdoses have surged 25 percent since 2010. The Centers for Disease Control reported that in 2015 more people died from heroin overdoses than from gun homicides. Overall, deaths from overdoses of opioids — including heroin, synthetic opiates like fentanyl and prescription pain medications such as morphine, hydrocodone and oxycodone — totaled more than 33,000 in 2015, up from 8,200 in 1999.

The Associated Press reported that Kansas ranks 36th in opioid overdose deaths, averaging about 330 overdose deaths per year from 2013 through 2015.

To combat the alarming increase nationally of opioid overdoses, 47 states have already approved legislation similar to HB 2217.

Naloxone, an opioid antagonist also known as Narcan, has proved extremely effective in reversing the often fatal symptoms of opioid overdoses. The CDC recommends increasing availability of and access to Narcan as a way to decrease overdose deaths.

Narcan is easy to administer through injection or nasal spray. The American Medical Association has endorsed the training of lay people to administer the drug, so that friends and family of addicts are prepared to help loved ones in case of an overdose.

In addition to allowing first responders to administer the drugs to people experiencing symptoms, HB 2217 also lets pharmacists provide Narcan to patients and bystanders without a prescription. The bill also grants immunity from civil and criminal liability to those who administer the drug. Forty-seven other states have policies increasing access to the drugs.

Republican Rep. Greg Lakin, of Wichita, a doctor, introduced HB 2217. Rep. John Wilson, D-Lawrence, has endorsed the bill.

The alarming rise in opioid addiction is an issue that most states, including Kansas, must find a way to address long-term. Decreasing the number of opioid overdose deaths by approving HB 2217 is a smart first step.