Emotional Gov. Baker signs bill to tackle opioid abuse

[unhappycamper]

http://www.wickedlocal.com/article/20160314/NEWS/160317732/0/breaking_ajax

Emotional Gov. Baker signs bill to tackle opioid abuse
Posted Mar. 14, 2016 at 1:57 pm Updated at 10:28 PM

BOSTON – An emotional Gov. Charlie Baker on Monday signed what he called the most comprehensive law in the nation to combat an opioid addiction scourge, including a seven-day limit on first-time prescriptions for opiate painkillers.
The Republican governor struggled to maintain his composure while recalling families he had met – some standing behind him at the State House ceremony – who had lost loved ones to a “deadly, merciless epidemic” and others who were desperately seeking help for a family member.

In recent years, the opiate-abuse epidemic has claimed thousands of lives in Massachusetts. The law, which was given final approval by the Legislature last week, establishes new rules and procedures for the prescribing of opiate painkillers. Supporters of the limits say most heroin addicts first become hooked on painkillers that were either prescribed or obtained illegally.

“This is the first law in the nation to limit an opioid prescription and I hope other states consider pursuing something similar,” Baker said.

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The VA has a hospice care unit in the West Roxbury Hospital that had cut opioid medications for their patients. Imagine that - dying in pain in a VA hospice care unitl because some local douchebag wants to make a name for himself.