Rep. Rutigliano Applauds Opioid Overdose Bill Signing

TRUMBULL — Public Act 15-198, An Act Concerning Substance Abuse and Opioid Overdose Prevention was signed into law, July 15. The law improves prescription monitoring programs and prescribing practices, and increases the accessibility to the overdose reversing drug naloxone (NARCAN) by first responders in cases of emergencies.

“This bill is going to save lives,” said Rep. Dave Rutigliano (R-123) who co-sponsored the legislation.

“The goal is to reduce doctor shopping and the over prescribing of opioids. Hopefully this will lead to less drug dependency and less people crossing the bridge to illegal narcotics. And thankfully, first responders will now be able to save more people that are overdosing with NARCAN,” he said.

In Connecticut, State Police Troopers have saved more than 30 lives from drug overdose by administering NARCAN.

Public Act 15-198 will require practitioners to check patient records in the prescription drug monitoring program before prescribing more than a 72-hour supply of any controlled substance, and will require them to review the patient’s record at least every 90 days. The bill will also allow pharmacists to prescribe opioid antagonists under certain conditions.

“If one life is saved, then this bill has done its job,” said Rep. Rutigliano.

Dozens of agencies and individuals testified in support of this legislation during its public hearing in March, including the Connecticut Hospital Association, The Connecticut State Medical Society, and the Connecticut Association of Addiction Professionals.

The bill passed unanimously in both legislative chambers.