Opioid Addiction Treatment Supported By New Bill

DUBUQUE, Iowa - June 11, 2018 - PRLog -- In an effort to boost opioid addiction treatment, Gov. Kim Reynolds signed a new bill into law in the Mercy Medical Center.

Gov. Kim Reynolds stated that house bill 2377 is a big step forward in fighting the state's opioid crisis.

Sen. Pam Jochum added that the government wants to focus on assisting more patients with prescription opioid use disorders.

According to the Iowa Department of Public Health (IDPH), 180 deaths that involved opioids occurred in the state in 2016 — 10 of those happened in Dubuque County.

An IDPH interactive opioid map showed that 315 patients were admitted into a Dubuque opioid addiction treatment program.

The new bill will require doctors and pharmacists to consult to the Prescription Monitoring Program.

Reynolds stated that the new requirements will cut down on overprescribing opioid-based medications and encourage physicians to explore alternative methods of chronic pain management for patients.

The new law will go into effect on July 1, 2018.

https://www.drugaddictionnow.com/2018/06/08/opioid-addiction-treatment-dubuque-supported-new-bill/