Governors to sign Massachusetts-inspired opioid prescription compact
BOSTON – More than 40 governors are agreeing to double down on efforts to fight the opioid epidemic through tweaks to the opioid prescription process that are modeled on findings from Massachusetts’ opioid working group.
Those tweaks are enumerated in the Compact to Fight Opioid Addiction, which represents the first time in more than ten years that National Governors Association members have developed a contract to spur coordinated action on a national health issue.
The same day Baker arrives in Iowa, he will brief the press on the NGA’s work on the opioid epidemic, followed by a panel hosted by Baker and New Hampshire Gov. Maggie Hassan, the health and human services committee co-chair, about fighting the opioid epidemic. The panel will also include US Secretary of Health and Human Services Sylvia Burwell.
“Bringing governors together around core strategies to end the opioid epidemic adds momentum behind state efforts and sends a clear signal to opioid prescribers and others whose leadership is critical to saving lives,” Baker said in a statement released today. “Massachusetts is proud to bring our plans to the table for other states as we work collaboratively to find meaningful solutions to this public health crisis.”
The Massachusetts-connected recommendations in the compact include social media efforts like Massachusetts’ “state without stigma” and Good Samaritan advertisements, integrating prescription data for primary medical providers, ironing out opioid prescription guidelines, and creating opioid prescription education around athletic programs.
This compact was the result of a vote during the NGA’s winter meeting to create a set of guidelines for opioid prescriptions.
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In case anyone is wondering if their governor signed this:
http://www.nga.org/cms/Compact-to-Fight-Opioid-Addiction
It figures … my governor signed it, though I’m not surprised. He used to be the administrator of the DEA (2001). Arkansas (esp my rural area) is still dealing with a crap load of home-made meth. Maybe they should concentrate on that first.
Oh, and our state Dept of Health does not support making medical mj legal in my state (it will be on our ballot again in Nov.) because it’s “not approved by the FDA.” Neither does my reps or governor. Let’s also not forget that my elected morons banned kratom just a few months ago.
I guess my governor has forgotten about heading the DEA while standing with chronic pain advocacy groups calling for a “balanced approach” towards relieving pain with prescription opioids. Isn’t it ironic how quickly politicians change their beliefs so that they can jump on the bandwagon of staying trendy.
http://www.deadiversion.usdoj.gov/pubs/advisories/newsrel_102301.pdf