Governor Charlie Baker's administration is hoping to target the state's opioid crisis with a new bill unveiled Thursday.
The bill would limit doctors to only prescribe 72 hours worth of painkillers to first-time patients and also would allow addicts to be held involuntarily for up to 72 hours by clinicians for treatment.
"We are dealing with something that is like a rocket ship in the wrong direction," Baker said on Boston Public Radio shortly after the announcement.
The bill would also provide for an increased number of beds in hospitals like Shattuck and Taunton State for women committed involuntarily to treatment by a court order. Currently, those women are sent to the Massachusetts Correctional Institute at Framingham, a practice that has been in place since 1987.
"If you are a woman in Massachusetts and you're an addict and you are involuntarily committed, you will be sent to Framingham and you will not receive treatment," Baker said. His administration's bill, he said, will change that by providing "treatment beds, not prison beds."
Baker said the legislation is intended to target the over-prescription of powerful drugs for short-term injuries or discomfort, not to necessarily impact access to painkillers for sufferers of chronic pain.
"This legislation ought not to have any impact on the way chronic pain is handled," he said.
"There are too many people walking out of a doctor's office, a dentist's office, and other medical providers who have acute pain that will be an issue with them for a couple days who are walking out with 30,60, 90 pills," Baker continued.
Governor Lends Helping Hand To Marijuana Legalization, Millionaire Tax Petitions
Prompted by Boston Public Radio co-host Jim Braude, Baker signed two petitions for ballot questions: one to legalize recreational marijuana in the state, and the other to raise taxes on the state's millionaires. Though he has not taken a stance on the millionaire's tax, Baker has said he would vote against marijuana legalization if it makes it onto the ballot.
"I decided if I really believe in this process, I should sign these things," Baker said. "So I'm going to sign them. Then I'll figure out which ones you're opposed to and bring those in next month and make you sign them."
To hear more from Governor Charlie Baker, tune in to Boston Public Radio above.
