We commend Governor Charlie Baker and House Speaker Robert A. DeLeo for the signing of landmark opioid legislation into law this week, addressing the deadly opioid and heroin epidemic plaguing Massachusetts. Speaker DeLeo has been targeting this problem for a long time and this law includes prevention education for both students and doctors and establishes a seven-day limit on first-time opioid prescriptions.
The Speaker also led the passage of substance addiction legislation that enhances intervention, prevention, and education efforts, including the creation of a framework to evaluate and treat patients who present in emergency rooms with an apparent overdose.
DeLeo thanked his colleagues for their unanimous vote on the opioid legislation.