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A Brandeis University study commissioned by The Partnership for a Drug-Free New Jersey, has concluded that the “Patient Notification Act” passed in 2017 has had a profound impact on the state’s fight against the opioid epidemic. Now the Partnership wants to take that success to a new level with a new bill introduced in Congress that will provide funding to educate opiate prescribers about their patients’ right to know about the dangers of taking opiates.
According to a release, the Brandeis study found that prior to the enactment of the Patient Notification Act, only 18% of the prescribers warned patients about the risk of opioid addiction when taking opioids. Following the law’s passage, 95% routinely warned patients about the risk of addiction.
The Partnership is now asking for public to support for H1185, the Opioid Patients’ Right to Know Act, which has been introduced in Congress to help prevent opioid addiction across the country. This act would create a grant program to incentivize states to require prescribers to discuss the addictive qualities of the drugs with patients and inform them of alternative treatment options before prescribing them for acute pain.
This new legislation is based on the success of the New Jersey Patient Notification Act, which has served as the model for legislation in 18 other states, requires prescribers to notify patients or their parents and guardians about the addictive nature of opioids, as well as non-opioid alternatives available, prior to prescribing an opioid.
Opioid addiction and overdose deaths appear to have increased in the past year, likely due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the release stated.
“The new legislation will help provide patients the knowledge to make informed decisions about what treatment option is right for them. Its goal is to prevent opioid addiction before it even gets started and to hopefully save lives, , Partnership Executive Director Angelo M. Valente said.
Prevent Opioid Abuse is asking citizens to contact their local Congressional representative and ask that they sign on to co-sponsor the bill.
To easily enter your name and address for a letter to be automatically be sent to Congressman Jeff Van Drew (R-D2) encouraging him to co-sponsor the bill, visit https://preventopioidabuse.org/take-action-today/
