New Bill Would Curb Over-Prescribing Of Opioids

COLUMBUS, OH - Ohio Senate Bill 119 would curb the over-prescribing of prescription opioids by doctors and dentists. The bill was introduced March 28 by Senator Bob Hackett (Republican from London) and Senator Jay Hottinger (Republican from Newark).

The bill accomplishes this by requiring dentists to undergo eight hours of training and requires make use of electronic medical records prior to prescribing opioids. Additionally, dentists who prescribe opioids would also have to undergo two hours of continuing education annually to maintain prescription abilities. The state dental board would set limits on the the amount of opioids a dentist would be allowed to prescribe to a patient.

For medical doctors, there would be new rules about when to follow Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) guidelines on opioid prescriptions. Specifically, patients who suffer from chronic pain but who will not benefit from further treatment must be treated using CDC guidelines.

Physicians that prescribe opioids will also have to undergo at least two hours of continued training annually.

Ultimately, the bill seeks to curtail the over-prescribing of these dangerous prescription medications by placing further regulations on when and who can prescribe the drugs.

In late 2016, a report from the Democratic staff of the Finance Committee called Ohio the "face of the opioid epidemic." In that damning report, it's noted that in an American Journal of Public Health study, the current rate of opioid dependence in the state of Ohio was registered as one out of every 100 people. However, the state only has enough treatment providers for one in 250.5.

The crisis has only deepened in 2017. February was the deadliest month in Cuyahoga County history for opioid deaths. At least 60 people were killed by heroin or fentanyl in the year's shortest month. If the current pace holds, more than 800 residents will be killed by overdose this year. By comparison, in 2016, there are a projected 608 overdose deaths. In 2015, there were 370 overdose deaths.

Ohio Attorney General Mike DeWine celebrated the introduction of SB 119, releasing a statement saying, "I have been a consistent supporter of having health care providers follow the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s (CDC) guidelines for prescribing opiates. Opiates are powerful drugs that treat pain, but we now know how addictive they are. By following the CDC’s recommendations, I believe we will help curb the potential for medication to be abused and for Ohioans to become addicted."

To see the full text of SB 119, click here.

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