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.