Neighbor News
Rep. Tweedie’s Hard Work on Opioid Addiction Prevention
As Co-Chair of working group, supports legislation to end epidemic
HARTFORD – State Representative Mark Tweedie (R-13), Co-Chair of a working group focused on limiting minors’ access to opioids, applauded Thursday’s passage of House Bill 7052, which will continue the state’s efforts to combat the opioid epidemic that has been worsening throughout our communities.
Research has shown that a child prescribed an opioid before the 12th grade, even if they have no-risk factors for substance abuse – i.e. were never involved with marijuana or alcohol, increased their risk of post-high-school opioid misuse three-fold,” said Rep. Tweedie.
“The importance of limiting powerful and addictive prescriptions to minors is a great step in helping to stop this epidemic,” continued Rep. Tweedie. "I was grateful to have recruited a committed group of highly respected members of the medical community to participate in our working group. We were lucky to have pediatric pain specialists, an addiction specialist, oral surgeon, psychiatrists, emergency room doctors, nurses, the Connecticut Pharmacy Association and the Hospital Association step up to help us. I thank everyone who was involved.”
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- Requires prescriptions for controlled substances be transmitted electronically to a pharmacy.
- Requires initial prescriptions of opioid drugs for minors to be limited to no more than a 5-day supply.
- 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.
Ranking Member of the Public Health Committee, State Representative Prasad Srinivasan, MD said, “Rep. Tweedie has worked diligently to ensure that his passion for protecting our residents against substance abuse and addiction disorders has become part of our legislative agenda. I am grateful for his dedication, as it is the right thing to do for our state and our constituents.”
H.B. 7052 passed through the House unanimously and has now been filed with the Senate for consideration before it can become law. Don’t forget to follow the bills that Rep. Tweedie supports and opposes by visiting his website at www.reptweedie.com, and clicking on the “Legislation” tab.
