On Monday, we reported on House Bill 324, which would create quick-response teams to deal with opiate overdoses in the region. Today we look at the STOP Act, which would attack the opioid epidemic using a different strategy.
When North Carolina Attorney General Josh Stein met with leaders in Wilmington on Monday, the Strengthen Opioid Misuse Prevention Act, or STOP Act, was on the table.
Known as House Bill 243, the effort is focused on doctors and prescriptions.
The STOP Act would set a limit on how many pills can be prescribed. Patients would either be given a prescription for five or seven days.
Ola Lewis is a Superior Court Judge in Brunswick County.
"Anything that helps address the opioid epidemic in our area will certainly be beneficial and I believe we have a dedicated legislative team who wants to see this in place to help the communities that they serve. It’s a no-brainer."
Wilmington Mayor Bill Saffo supports the legislation.
"On the STOP legislation, which includes Rep. Ted Davis as a sponsor, it's to try to limit the amount of opioids that are prescribed when you have a procedure done. A lot of people right now are getting 30-day supply of opiate where they may only need a seven day supply."
The $20 million proposed in the bill would be used over two years for treatment and recovery services across the state, as well.
In addition the STOP Act would require doctors and pharmacies to use a controlled substance reporting service, to stop what’s called doctor shopping.
The bill is currently with the house committee on health.
You can read House Bill 243 here