HOUSE DOCKET, NO. 4154        FILED ON: 9/14/2015

HOUSE  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  No. 3811

 

The Commonwealth of Massachusetts

_________________

PRESENTED BY:

Diana DiZoglio

_________________

To the Honorable Senate and House of Representatives of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts in General
Court assembled:

The undersigned legislators and/or citizens respectfully petition for the adoption of the accompanying bill:

An Act regulating oxycontin prescriptions for minors.

_______________

PETITION OF:

 

Name:

District/Address:

Date Added:

Diana DiZoglio

14th Essex

9/14/2015

Steven S. Howitt

4th Bristol

9/17/2015

Daniel J. Ryan

2nd Suffolk

9/18/2015

Gailanne M. Cariddi

1st Berkshire

9/16/2015

Robert L. Hedlund

Plymouth and Norfolk

9/16/2015

James J. Lyons, Jr.

18th Essex

9/17/2015

Edward F. Coppinger

10th Suffolk

7/22/2019

Michelle M. DuBois

10th Plymouth

9/17/2015

Brian A. Joyce

Norfolk, Bristol and Plymouth

9/18/2015

James Arciero

2nd Middlesex

7/22/2019

Susannah M. Whipps Lee

2nd Franklin

9/17/2015

David M. Nangle

17th Middlesex

9/18/2015

Marcos A. Devers

16th Essex

9/18/2015

Michael S. Day

31st Middlesex

7/22/2019

Kathleen O'Connor Ives

First Essex

9/17/2015

Walter F. Timilty

7th Norfolk

7/22/2019

Barbara A. L'Italien

Second Essex and Middlesex

9/18/2015


HOUSE DOCKET, NO. 4154        FILED ON: 9/14/2015

HOUSE  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  No. 3811

By Ms. DiZoglio of Methuen, a petition (subject to Joint Rule 12) of Diana DiZoglio and others for legislation to regulate the dispensing or distribution of medications containing oxycontin to persons under the age of seventeen.  Mental Health and Substance Abuse.

 

The Commonwealth of Massachusetts

 

_______________

In the One Hundred and Eighty-Ninth General Court
(2015-2016)

_______________

 

An Act regulating oxycontin prescriptions for minors.

 

Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives in General Court assembled, and by the authority of the same, as follows:
 

SECTION 1. The General Court finds and declares that every day 2,500 American youth abuse a prescription pain reliever for the first time.  A study from the National Institute on Drug abuse found that in 2014, nearly 1 in 30 high school seniors have abused OxyContin.  In 2009, the Massachusetts Oxycontin and Heroin Commission found that in 2007 alone there were 4,544 substance abuse treatment admissions in the Commonwealth for citizens ages 15-19 and that this age group accounts for 4.3 per cent of all substance abuse treatment admissions. The commission found that the second most common source for obtaining prescription opioids was through a physician.  Massachusetts has a duty to the children of the commonwealth to regulate the distribution of oxycontin to these vulnerable citizens.

SECTION 2. Chapter 94C of the General Laws, as appearing in the 2014 Official Edition, is hereby amended by inserting after section 36, the following section:-

Section 36A. (a) No pharmacy or pharmacist shall issue, dispense or distribute medications or prescriptions containing oxycontin to any person under the age of 17.

(b) No practitioner, registered nurse or licensed practical nurse authorized to administer, utilize, dispense or prescribe a controlled substance in the commonwealth shall prescribe any medication or prescription containing oxycontin to any person under the age of 17.