State Representative John Frey (R-Ridgefield) applauded the unanimous approval of legislation by the House of Representatives, which he also he cosponsored, that aims to curb the growing opioid addiction crisis facing Connecticut.
House Bill 5053 incorporates a number of measures including:
- Requiring municipalities to equip and train their first responders to administer naloxone, an overdose reversing drug
- For adults, limiting the number of pills in an opioid prescription to a seven-day supply
- For minors, limiting the number of pills in an opioid prescription to a seven-day supply and requiring the prescriber to discuss the potential danger of the drug with the patient and the guardian, if they are present
- Prohibiting commercial health carriers from requiring prior authorization for coverage of naloxone
According to the Office of the Medical Examiner, the number of accidental deaths from drug overdoses in Connecticut has more than doubled since 2012, reaching over 700 deaths in 2015.
“We have all heard that people in communities across the state, including our own, are suffering and dying from drug addiction,” said Rep. Frey. “This bill is a good step in the fight to stop the needless deaths that are the result of addiction. Among many other provisions, we equip our first responders with a critical tool and also address one of the root causes of the addiction crisis by limiting the number of excess pills that could end up floating around in medicine cabinets across the state. I am proud of our work here and hope to see this measure move quickly through the legislative process.”
The bill passed out of the House on Monday and now heads to the Senate where it awaits action. The legislative session adjourns at midnight on May 4th.