Rep. Belsito, Lawmakers Unanimously Approve Bill To Curb Opioid Addiction

From State Rep. Sam Belsito: State Rep. Sam Belsito on Friday applauded the passage of House Bill 7052, which will continue the state’s efforts to combat the opioid epidemic.

“This bipartisan legislation is critical to helping us curb the opioid addiction epidemic,” said Rep. Belsito. “If we don’t act quickly to educate people of all ages about the dangers of opioids, we will continue to lose this fight, and I will not accept that outcome. I urge my colleagues in the Senate to pass this bill quickly and send it to the governor’s desk. ”

The main component of the bill contains various provisions on controlled substance abuse prevention, particularly as it relates to opioid drugs. It:

1. Generally requires prescriptions for controlled substances be transmitted electronically to a pharmacy,
2. Requires prescriptions for minors to be limited to a 5-day initial supply of opioid drugs;
3. Allows certain registered nurses to destroy or dispose of their patient's controlled substances;
4. Creates a process by which patients may request to not be prescribed an opioid drug; and
5. Requires practitioners, when prescribing opioids, to discuss with all patients, rather than only minors, the risks associated with opioid drug use.

Rep. Belsito added, “I also hope that we are able to pass House Bill 7290, which looks to increase penalties on individuals dealing fentanyl. Another bill that should be passed is Senate Bill 1039, which would make a drug dealer criminally liable for manslaughter in cases where a dealer has sold drugs that cause another person to die of an overdose. These two bills are common sense measures and I will be working to get them passed.”

House Bill 7052 passed 146-0 and now heads to the Senate for consideration.

Photo courtesy of State Rep. Sam Belsito