The State Senate yesterday approved a package of seven bills designed to combat Pennsylvania’s heroin and opioid epidemic, touching on law enforcement, treatment, and information about the dangers of prescription drugs. The bills will now be considered by the House of Representatives.
Senator Joe Pittman said the the opioid epidemic is probably the most significant crisis Pennsylvania is facing and has been facing for many years. “This package of bills is an important step in trying to address the issue,” he said. “Unfortunately there is no singular, silver bullet to solve it. We have to do our very best to give law enforcement and those who are on the front lines of dealing with this addiction and this crisis every tool possible. That is what this package seeks to do.”
The Pennsylvania Department of Health report opioid drug deaths statewide rose steadily in this decade, peaking at 5,559 in 2017. The number of opioid drug deaths finally declined in 2018 to 4,267. At the same time, opioid prescriptions in Pennsylvania declined by 14 percent between 2016 and 2017.
According to OverdoseFreePA, a website maintained by the University of Pittsburgh which draws on data provided by county coroners, Indiana County Coroner Jerry Overman Jr. reported overdose deaths peaking at 53 in 2016. The number fell to 41 in 2017 and 23 last year. So far this year, there have been only three overdose deaths.
HERE ARE THE BILLS APPROVED YESTERDAY IN THE STATE SENATE:
Senate Bill 93 – creates a new statute establishing a second degree felony for the delivery or distribution of an illicit drug that results in “serious bodily injury” to the user.
Senate Bill 112 – limits the prescription for a controlled substance containing an opioid to seven days unless there is a medical emergency that puts the patients’ health or safety at risk.
Senate Bill 118 – creates a “Recovery to Work” pilot program to connect individuals in recovery with occupations through local workforce development boards
Senate Bill 223 – allows providers to leave a dose package of naloxone with an on-scene caregiver of a patient who overdosed on opioids.
Senate Bill 432 – allows Medicaid Managed Care Organizations to have access to information in the Prescription Drug Monitoring Program.
Senate Bill 572 – requires patients prescribed opioids to enter into treatment agreements with a prescriber to ensure they understand the risks of addiction and dangers of overdose.
Senate Bill 675 – requires certification of office-based prescribers of the addiction treatment drug buprenorphine, and limits the drug’s use.
