ATLANTA (March 1, 2017) | Sen. Renee Unterman (R– Buford) sponsored Senate Bill 81 which unanimously passed the Georgia Senate on Wednesday.
“Opioid abuse and heroin overdoses are an epidemic that must be addressed in this state and around the nation,” said Sen. Unterman. “It is our responsibility to do everything in our power to curb the growth of this epidemic. I am grateful to my colleagues and everyone who has worked tirelessly on this legislation. Although SB 81 isn’t a one stop cure for this epidemic, I believe that it is a step in the right direction to save lives and address an issue that affects so many of our citizens.”
Section one of SB 81, also known as the Jeffrey Dallas Gay, Jr. Act, would allow pharmacists to dispense Naloxone to individuals in accordance with a statewide standing order. This section also reschedules Naloxone from the list of dangerous drugs to a Schedule V Controlled Substance.
Section two of SB 81, also known as the Substance Abuse Treatment and Overdose Prevention (STOP) Act, addresses electronic reporting for those who prescribe or dispense controlled substances. Prescribers and dispensers would be required to use the Prescription Drug Monitoring Program (PDMP) every 24 hours instead of the weekly reporting that is currently required. PDMP is administered by the Georgia Drug and Narcotics Agency.
SB 81 was amended on the Senate floor and the penalties section dealing with misdemeanor and felony offenses for providers were removed. As amended, SB 81 states that providers who fail to complete registrations or fail to comply will now be referred to the Georgia Composite Medical Board.
SB 81 will now go to the Georgia House of Representatives for consideration.
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For Immediate Release:
March 1, 2017
For Information Contact:
Ines Owens, Acting Director
Ines.owens@senate.ga.gov
404.656.0028