Republican leadership in the House is working on a proposal to prohibit controlled substance prescriptions from being filled more than six months after the date they are prescribed. Twelfth District Representative, Brian Best, says they are also working to implement electronic prescriptions.
Best says this is probably the biggest, most helpful part of the bill. They will be including language that will offer legal immunity for someone who is calling 911 seeking help for an overdose patient, as well as requiring first responders to report on the electronic tracking system. He adds there is a chance some of these items won’t make it into the final draft.
The opioid epidemic facing the country is hitting very close to home, and the statistical numbers are not showing any sign that we have a handle on how to stem the growth.
Best says we all may know someone who is battling this type of addiction and whose life is being ruined by opioids. The entire approach being taken is more about intervention than incarceration, he says. This is not meant to be punitive, but a chance to provide fair warning about what people are getting into and about reducing the ease of access to addiction.
