Limits the initial prescription of a controlled substance for the alleviation of acute pain

Sections 2 provides that the act shall take effect in 180 days from its enactment.

Justification

Prescription drug abuse is a growing crisis in both New York State and the country at large. In this state, there has been armed violence, deaths by overdose and suicide, and increasing rates of addiction. To address this crisis, the Senate Standing Committee on Health held two Roundtables on the topic in August 2011 and February 2012. The Roundtables included panelists from all aspects of this debate, including law enforcement, doctors, addiction specialists, government agencies, and family members who have lost loved ones to prescription painkiller abuse. A persistent theme from these Roundtables was the concern regarding the volume of prescription pain medicine sitting unattended in medicine cabinets throughout the state.

In 2010, there were 22.5 million prescriptions issued for prescription painkillers, not including refills in New York State. That is more than two million more prescriptions written than there are citizens in this state. This bill addresses two major recommendations from the Roundtable, (1) eliminating excess medication for the treatment of acute pain and (2) decreasing the volume of pills left in medicine cabinets. Treating acute pain often involves patients recovering from surgical procedures, short-term trauma, or dental procedures. By definition, acute pain is also finite pain-with the exception of certain situations involving terminal cancer pain. However, it is not uncommon for a doctor to prescribe 30 pills for pain following a dental procedure. Most patients will use 2-3 pills and the excess sits in their medicine cabinets, where it runs the risk of diversion. Approximately 70% of prescription painkiller abusers get their drugs from a family member or friend. Recent news tells the story of teenagers taking whatever pills are available in the home medicine cabinet and taking or selling them on the street. Prescription painkillers are a wonderful tool, and allow us to treat pain as never before in human history, but they are also highly addictive.

This bill ameliorates the excess volume of pills on the street, while also providing better continuity of care. Acute pain can be a powerful diagnostic tool for medical professionals. It is common for this form of pain to follow various timelines. If pain worsens or lasts for a longer time, it can be an important signal that something else is happening. Providing excess medication helps patients dampen their current pain, but it also prevents them from seeking additional medical help that they might need. This bill limits the amount of medication, so that patients feeling additional pain will seek medical intervention earlier.

Legislative history

2012: S.6745 2014-15: S.2949-A

Fiscal implications

None.

Effective date

180 days after it shall have become law.