Press Statement  AG Healey Issues Statement On House Passage Of Opioid Bill

Boston — Attorney General Maura Healey today issued the following statement on the House’s passage of the conference committee report on opioids:

“Prescription painkillers are claiming the lives of too many people here in Massachusetts and across the country. I thank the Governor, the Legislature and the many stakeholders we’ve worked with over the last year for their collective efforts to get a law on the books that will save lives. This bill will make a significant difference in how we as a society treat opioid painkillers. Among other things, the bill requires prescribers to check the prescription monitoring program each time they prescribe a narcotic, sets a one-week limit on first-time opioid prescriptions, and gives patients the ability to limit the number of pills they receive. The bill also includes important provisions aimed at informing young people, parents, and patients about the risks of opioid use and misuse, which will help prevent tragedies in the future. I am grateful for the Conference Committee’s hard work, and I look forward to a final bill making its way quickly to the Governor’s desk.”