Portantino Bill Aimed at Combatting Opioid Crisis Passes Assembly Committee
For Immediate Release: June 11, 2024
Contact: Lerna Shirinian, (818) 409-0400
Portantino Bill Aimed at Combatting Opioid Crisis Passes Assembly Committee
Sacramento, California – Senate Bill 607, authored by State Senator Anthony J. Portantino (D – Burbank), passed the Assembly Business and Professions Committee today. The measure aims to combat the ongoing opioid crisis by requiring prescribers of controlled substances containing an opioid to discuss dangers of opioids with all patients.
“By having prescribers discuss specified information about opioids with all patients, more people will have the opportunity to opt out of an opioid prescription, and instead seek other treatment options if they choose to do so,” stated Senator Portantino. “It’s important that patients know all the risks associated with opioid containing drugs before taking them. Given the opioid crisis we are currently facing, something as simple as communication can save lives.”
Prescription opioids continue to be a significant issue, which accounted for 17,000 of the overdose deaths in 2021. According to California’s health department, opioid related deaths spiked 121% between 2019 and 2021. The most recent state data indicates that between September 2021 and September 2022, up to 5,942 people died after ingesting a synthetic opioid, accounting for 86% of all opioid related deaths.
SB 607 would expand requirements for prescribers to discuss risks and dangers of opioids and opioid addiction to all patients, not only a minor.
“Too many lives are lost to opioid misuse and addiction,” said Mr. Reji Varghese, Executive Director of the Medical Board of California. “The Medical Board of California supports SB 607 because it promotes patient safety by helping to ensure that important conversations related to the safe use of opioid medications occur between patients and providers. The Board's July 2023 guidelines for treating patients with pain underscore the importance of patient counseling on the risks of overdose when prescribing opioids.”
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