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Capt. Obvious

(9,002 posts)
Thu Oct 15, 2015, 01:57 PM Oct 2015

Gov. Baker Unveils Opioid Legislation

Gov. Charlie Baker on Thursday unveiled legislation to further tackle the state’s opioid abuse crisis — and it includes two controversial provisions.

One would have doctors give first-time patients only a 72-hour supply of opiate medication.

“You can always, as a patient, go back to discuss additional options after that 72-hour period, but the days of people walking out of a dentist’s office or a doctor’s office with 30, 60 or 90 days of this pain medication need to come to an end,” Baker said at a news conference.

In the second controversial provision, Baker wants to give hospitals the ability to hold a drug abuser against their will for 72 hours because they are deemed a danger to themselves or others.

....

wbur
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