Rep. Candelora Supports Opioid Awareness Bill

HARTFORD - On Wednesday, May 31, in the General Assembly’s Public Health Committee, State Rep. Vincent Candelora 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, particularly as it relates to opioid drugs. This bill would:

• Require prescriptions for controlled substances to be transmitted electronically to a pharmacy
• Require prescriptions for minors to be limited to a five day initial supply of opioid drugs
• Allow certain registered nurses to destroy or dispose of their patient's controlled substances
• Create a process by which patients may request to not be prescribed an opioid drug
• Require practitioners, when prescribing opioids, to discuss with all patients, rather than only minors, the risks associated with opioid drug use

“In order to combat this growing epidemic, we must take the proper measures to educate the public regarding how to handle and dispose of medications,” said Rep. Candelora who played a critical role in the passage of this proposal. “If we are going to be serious about curbing opioid abuse; that means we must consider all aspects of prevention and awareness. This bill is another step in the right direction.” Opioid overdoses are 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. Candelora supported legislation which passed (Public Act 16-43) to help address this crisis.