HARTFORD — A bill that would attempt to address Connecticut’s opioid abuse problem by limiting most first-time opioid prescriptions for adults to seven days is moving to Democratic Gov. Dan Malloy’s desk.
The Senate on Tuesday approved the legislation, which would allow subsequent prescriptions for longer periods of time. The bill would cap opioid prescriptions for minors at seven days.
Malloy supports the bill, which merges more than 50 bills submitted this year to the General Assembly’s Public Health Committee for consideration.
Southington Republican Sen. Joe Markley says the committee “combined the ones that seemed ready to go and useful into one bill.”
The bill also would require cities and towns to amend local emergency medical services plans to make sure first responders are equipped with an overdose reversal drug.
The bill comes as the state cracks down on heroin and opioid addictions, which has become an epidemic leading to several deaths.
