Rep. Staneski For Better Educating Public on Opioids

From CT House Republicans: State Rep. Pam Staneski (R-119) today in the Public Health committee supported a bi-partisan proposal to implement additional addiction prevention measures for opioid abuse.

The legislation, HB 7052, An Act Preventing Prescription Opioid Diversion and Abuse, would help state agencies better prevent prescription opioid diversion and abuse through education and prevention.

This bill contains various provisions on controlled substance abuse prevention:

• Generally requires prescriptions for controlled substances to be transmitted electronically to a pharmacy, which must have the technology to accept such prescriptions
• Allows the Department of Consumer Protection (DCP) commissioner to share certain prescription drug monitoring program information with other state agencies for certain studies involving drug abuse
• Allows certain registered nurses to destroy or dispose of their patient's controlled substances
• Creates a process by which patients may request to not be prescribed an opioid drug
• Requires practitioners, when prescribing opioids, to discuss with all patients, rather than only minors, the associated risks of addiction and overdose; the dangers of taking opioid drugs with alcohol, benzodiazepines, and other central nervous system depressants; and why the prescription is necessary

“Educating the public regarding medicine disposal and securing medications are important steps in combatting this crisis as well,” said Rep. Staneski. “In order to curb drug diversion, electronic transmission of controlled substances is a must. Electronic submission is the safest way to prevent fraudulent use of paper prescriptions.”

Opioid overdoses on the rise, in 2015, 33,000 opioid deaths have occurred nationwide. In Connecticut alone, 800 deaths due to overdose have occurred since January 1, 2015 through August 2, 2016.

Last year, State Rep. Staneski supported legislation which passed (Public Act 16-43) to help address this crisis.

Photo courtesy of CT House Republicans