Governor Edwards Signs Multiple Bills To Stop Growing Opioid Epidemic

Governor John Bel Edwards signed three bills to help with the state’s growing opioid abuse problem. One of new laws prohibits a doctor from prescribing more than a seven day supply of opioids for a first time prescription for acute pain. New Orleans Representative Helena Moreno says she’s happy this legislation was able to come out of an unproductive session.

“It was something the received by partisan support, in fact I don’t think one person voted against it. So, that was one thing we in the legislature were able together on this year.”

Moreno says this is a step in the right direction for saving lives. She says the bill strikes a balance between preserving patient access and reducing the number of opioid prescriptions.

“Maybe you’ll take too many of those pills, more than you would need. That’s what we’re trying to prevent.”

The two other bills signed into law creates a task force to study how to prevent opioid abuse and another requires doctors to look at a statewide prescription monitoring system to make the sure the patient is not “doctor-shopping.” State Department of Health Secretary Dr. Rebekah Gee believes this legislation will slow down opioid abuse in our state.

“What we’ve done will make an enormous difference to the lives of everyone in this state and I’m incredibly proud of the progress we’ve made.”