1. Short title This Act may be cited as the Hospitals As Naloxone Distribution Sites Act or the HANDS Act . 2. Findings Congress finds the following: (1) Opioid use disorder is a treatable brain disease from which people can recover. (2) Individuals living with opioid use disorder, those who use opioids for chronic pain, and those who use illicit substances that may be contaminated with fentanyl or other illicit additives are at high risk for fatal overdose. (3) Individuals at-risk of overdose are frequently cared for in emergency departments and hospitals, making these locations ideal places to screen and intervene. In addition, medical providers have the knowledge and ability to provide medically accurate information, but also treat the disease of addiction once a person is ready for treatment. (4) Overdose deaths are preventable with lifesaving opioid overdose reversal medications like naloxone. Two-thirds of fatal overdoses have a witness, who can intervene and prevent overdose death if they have access to opioid antagonists. (5) Just as individuals with life-threatening allergies should carry an EpiPen, individuals and close contacts of those with opioid use disorder should carry an opioid overdose reversal medication. (6) While over the counter (OTC) access to reversal agents may increase their availability to certain populations, the hurdles to access these medications for many of the most at-risk patients will still remain. These hurdles include out of pocket costs, transportation or access to pharmacies or other areas carrying OTC naloxone, stigma by pharmacy staff, addiction-related compromised executive function, and more. Therefore, hospitals are uniquely positioned as a point of distribution to best serve those who would most benefit. (7) It is the intent of Congress to increase access for all individuals with opioid use disorder, and other risk factors, to opioid overdose reversal medication so that if they experience an overdose, they will have a second chance. As long as there is breath, there is