New Jersey passed an opioid legislation which features the most restrictive prescription limit of its kind in the country. This is in the spirit of continuing the quest to address opioid abuse in the state. Signed by New Jersey Governor Chris Christie last Wednesday, the bill aims to curb painkiller abuse by tightening prescription mandates.
The new law limits doctors to prescribe opioids to a five-day supply. The previous rule was allows prescription of the drug for 30 days. However, the strict law does not apply to cancer or chronic pain patients or people in end-of-life care.
The Governor says that this is the most restrictive prescription limit of its kind in the US. The new bill also requires state-regulated health insurers to apply coverage within the first four weeks of inpatient or outpatient treatment for substance use disorder. The patients will also no longer need authorization for the coverage.
Another aspect of the New Jersey opioid legislation that was immediately approved requires certain medical professionals to brush up on their knowledge on drug abuse. They're also required to educate patients on the risks of opioid drugs. Dangerous prescription drugs like OxyContin, Percocet, and Vicodin are included in the patient education plan, The Fix reports.
Governor Christie has vowed to address opioid abuse in New Jersey. Opioid-related deaths have reportedly claimed the lives of nearly 1,600 New Jersey residents in 2015. In January, after focusing on drug abuse in the State address, Christie have also signed an executive order which declares opioid abuse as a public health crisis, the Pharmacy Times reports.
Talking about the New Jersey opioid legislation, Christie said that he will not have the blood of addicted New Jerseyans on his hands because politicians waited to act. He also said that he is not willing to watch another 1,600 of the citizens die and watch their families mourn and suffer. The state is now set to implement the new laws as soon as possible.
