Last week in an Executive Session of the Joint Committee on Mental Health and Substance Abuse favorably released a comprehensive piece of legislation, An Act Relative to Substance Abuse Education and Prevention; which deals with the abuse of the narcotics OxyContin and Heroin.  The legislation was crafted in response to the recommendations made in the November 2009 report of the OxyContin and Heroin Commission (mass.gov/legis/reports/repindex.htm), which was chaired by State Senator Steven Tolman (D-Brighton).

Senator Jennifer L. Flanagan (D-Leominster), Co-Chair of the Joint Committee on Mental Health and Substance Abuse stated, “We were able to take the recommendations made by the OxyContin and Heroin Commission and craft a bill that deals with the wide-ranging issues involved with all types of substance abuse. Unfortunately, this is a real issue in every city and every town in this Commonwealth. The action of this Committee symbolizes the commitment to combat this epidemic. ”

“We have a growing substance abuse problem in this state, especially with prescription drugs and opioids. Given the economic pressures we are all facing right now, and the fact that in such difficult times individuals suffering from addiction are at a greater risk, it is more important than ever to keep our focus on helping those struggling with substance abuse issues”, stated Co-Chair Liz Malia (D-Boston). “This bill represents the hard work of the bipartisan OxyContin and Heroin Commission and will go a long way towards helping those individuals in our state who are suffering from addiction and can’t get the treatment and prevention services they so desperately need.”

“The bill that the Committee on Mental Health and Substance Abuse filed has the potential to curb the epidemic that opiate abuse has inflicted on the Commonwealth and reflects many of the recommendations of the OxyContin and Heroin Commission,” said Senator Tolman. “With as many as two individuals in the Commonwealth dying each day of drug overdoses, this legislation is an important first step. We must continue to be aggressive and change our response to a crisis that is crippling our communities.”

The legislation mandates the designation of an official Massachusetts prescription form, which is serialized, tamper resistant and registered with the Department of Public Health. It also requires parental notification when a minor is treated for a drug or alcohol overdose.

Some provisions of the bill include: Creates a formal substance abuse policy in public schools; Provides pain management narcotic training for prescribers and for those patients who are prescribed it; Requires insurance companies to defer to treating clinician for mental health and substance abuse coverage; Provides education for court personnel on signs of substance abuse and relevant treatment programs; Mandates discharge plans for all individuals leaving DPH facilities

The Massachusetts OxyContin and Heroin Commission was established by the Massachusetts State Legislature to investigate and study the impact of the OxyContin and heroin epidemic on the state and municipal governments and recommended policy solutions to help stem the tide of this epidemic.