Gopal Bill to Require Opioid Antidote Prescriptions Advances

Trenton – In response to the opioid crisis, the Senate today approved legislation sponsored by Senator Vin Gopal which would require opioid antidote prescriptions for certain patients.

“Across the United States, drug overdose is the leading cause of accidental death,” said Senator Gopal (D-Monmouth). “From March to May 2020, fatal overdoses in New Jersey rose 19.5 percent from the year before. It is evident we have a massive drug addiction problem on our hands, and this bill is crucial at beginning to tackle this problem.”

The bill, S-2323, would establish requirements for an opioid antidote to be prescribed along with a prescription for an opioid drug when certain risk factors are present.

Under the bill, an opioid antidote would be prescribed along with an opioid prescription in situations in which the patient has a history of a substance use disorder, the daily dose of the opioid being prescribed is more than 90 morphine milligram equivalents or the patient holds a current, valid prescription for a benzodiazepine drug that is a Schedule III or IV controlled dangerous substance.

The bill cleared the Senate by a vote of 33-0.