Rep. Donato: New Opioid Bill Will Save Lives
The statistics are startling. More than a thousand Massachusetts residents are believed to have died statewide from opiate-related overdoses last year. When you break those statistics down, it comes to this: more than four people die each day from overdoses. However, there has been action taken in the Massachusetts Legislature as well as at the local level to take positive action designed to save lives.
In response to this growing crisis, the Legislature recently passed a comprehensive substance prevention and education bill to aid local communities, schools, and healthcare facilities to help deal with this deadly public health epidemic. I was pleased to actively participate in the passage of that bill and I believe that people should be aware of what it does.
The bill places a seven day limit on first time opioid prescriptions for adults and minors. Of course, an exception is made for adults with chronic pain management, cancer, and palliative care. It requires practitioners to check the prescription monitoring program (PMP) for every opiate prescription and to duly note that in the patient’s medical records. It even establishes a non-opiate directive form indicating when a person ought not to be offered opiates which is included in the patient’s medical records. It requires that the contact information for all insurers is posted on the bed-finder tool website and updates the law to ensure that the site is available 24 hours a day.
The bill also ends the practice of sending women who are civilly committed for either alcohol or substance-use disorders to MCI-Framingham. It ensures civil-liability protection for individuals who administer Narcan. It updates the training guidelines for all practitioners who prescribe controlled substances. Lastly, the bill establishes the Massachusetts Council on Substance Use Disorder Prevention and Treatment which will help the Commonwealth to better understand and confront addiction in a unified way.
At a more direct level in the fight against substance abuse, the Middlesex Opiate Task Force, led by Middlesex County District Attorney Marian Ryan, comprised of various elements of law enforcement and substance abuse experts, will devote itself to fighting opiate abuse at the local level. I am proud to having been invited to serve on that Task Force.
It’s important to note that opioid addiction is a serious disease that must be confronted. Too often people feel ashamed of themselves or of addicted family members and try to sweep the problem under the carpet. There are treatment options. People should feel free to contact the Task Force for information about those treatment options.
Sadly enough, more people die from opioid overdoses than from homicides, and are close to equaling auto accidents. There is much to be done. However, the good news is that together, we can put an end to the dangers that come with this severe opiate crisis.
– Rep. Paul Donato represents Medford and Malden