Rep. Hall Votes for Stricter Prescription Opioid Policy

HARTFORD – State Representative Carol Hall (R-59) today voted in support of a bi-partisan proposal she co-sponsored seeking 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.

“The opioid epidemic has taken much too large of a toll on our community and I am proud of my colleagues in the House today for continuing our commitment to combatting the crisis,” said Rep. Hall.  “This legislation will by no means solve the epidemic, but is most definitely a step in the right direction towards reducing access to the medications that have shown to lead to instances of addiction and overdose.”

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
• Requires prescriptions for minors to be limited to a 5 day initial supply of opioid drugs
• 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 risks associated with opioid drug use.

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 33,000 opioid deaths occurred nationwide in 2015. In Connecticut alone, there were 917 opioid-related overdose deaths in 2016, up from 729 in 2015 and 568 in 2014.