The Republican-led state Senate on Tuesday is poised to pass a package of more than a dozen bills aimed at curbing heroin and opioid abuse, including a measure that seeks to limit the amount of highly addictive medication that can be prescribed to minors.
The bill (S.5949) would prohibit practitioners from prescribing more than a seven-day supply of any controlled substance containing an opioid, such as Percocet, OxyContin and Vicodin, to a minor. It would also require the health care practitioner to get written permission from a parent or guardian before issuing a first prescription of a controlled substance. There are exceptions for medical emergencies or if the minor’s health or safety is at risk.
