What's happening
This bill requires doctors to counsel patients on overdose risks and naloxone availability when prescribing more than a week’s supply of opioid painkillers.
Why it matters
Promotes patient awareness and safety. By requiring doctors to counsel patients on overdose risks when prescribing more than a week's supply of opioids, the law aims to ensure that patients are informed about the dangers of misuse and accidental overdose, which could encourage safer medication use.
Expands access and knowledge of life-saving medication. Informing patients about naloxone and other opioid antagonists increases the likelihood that patients (and their families) will seek out and keep these medications on hand, potentially reducing fatal overdoses.
Targets first-time high-risk prescriptions. The counseling requirement applies specifically to the first opioid prescription in a calendar year exceeding one week, focusing on key moments when patients may be new to opioid therapy and less aware of its risks.
Creates standardized expectations for prescribers. The amendment clarifies the definitions of opioid analgesics and antagonists, reducing ambiguity for healthcare providers and supporting more consistent application of overdose prevention practices statewide.
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Who cares
Headline styles
Warn Patients About Opioids
Plain English, a few words. Used as the page title.
Sponsors
Senator · Senate District 61
No co-sponsors yet.
History
- Referred to health
- Referred to health
Companion bill
The same bill in the other chamber. A bill becomes law when one version passes both houses and the governor signs it, so either number can carry it.
Warn Patients About Opioids
In Assembly Committee · Health · Sponsor Edward Braunstein
Full text
1 pageUnderlined is new[Struck] is removedOfficial text on nysenate.gov ↗
STATE OF NEW YORK
5879
2017-2018 Regular Sessions
IN SENATE
May 4, 2017
Introduced by Sen. RANZENHOFER -- read twice and ordered printed, and when printed to be committed to the Committee on Health
AN ACT to amend the public health law, in relation to opioid analgesic prescriptions
The People of the State of New York, represented in Senate and Assembly, do enact as follows:
Section 1. The public health law is amended by adding a new section 3309-b to read as follows:
§ 3309-b. Opioid analgesic prescription. 1. For the first opioid analgesic prescription of a calendar year that is greater than a one week's supply, the prescribing physician shall counsel the patient on the risks of overdose, and inform the patient of the availability of an opioid antagonist, including, but not limited to, naloxone.
2. For the purposes of this section, the following terms shall have the following meanings:
(a) "Opioid analgesics" means the medicines buprenorphine, butorphanol, codeine, hydrocodone, hydromorphone, levorphanol, meperidine, methadone, morphine, nalbuphine, oxycodone, oxymorphone, pentazocine, propoxyphene as well as their brand names, isomers and combinations.
(b) "Opioid antagonist" means an FDA-approved drug that, when administered, negates or neutralizes in whole or in part the pharmacological effects of an opioid in the body. The opioid antagonist is limited to naloxone or other medications approved by the department for this purpose.
§ 2. This act shall take effect on the one hundred twentieth day after it shall have become a law; provided, however, that effective immediately, the addition, amendment and/or repeal of any rule or regulation necessary for the implementation of this act on its effective date is authorized and directed to be made and completed on or before such effective date.
EXPLANATION--Matter in italics (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
[ ] is old law to be omitted.
LBD01757-01-7
Reflowed for reading: line numbers and page breaks removed. Cite the official text.
Sponsor's memo
Title of bill
An act to amend the public health law, in relation to opioid analgesic prescriptions
Purpose or general idea of bill
To require that for the first opioid analgesic prescription of a calendar year, the prescribing physician shall counsel the patient on the risks of overdose.
Summary of specific provisions
Section 1 - Adds Section 3309-b to the Public Health Law. This section would require that for the first opioid analgesic prescription of a calendar year that is greater than a one week supply, the prescribing physician must counsel the patient on the risks of overdose, and inform the patient of the availability of an opioid antagonist.
This bill defines "opioid analgesics" as the medicines buprenorphine, butorphanol, codeine, hydrocodone, hydromorphone, levorphanol, meperidine, methadone, morphine, nalbuphine, oxycodone, oxymorphone, pentazocine, propoxyphene, as well as their brand names, isomers and combinations.
A definition of "opioid antagonist" is also provided in this bill. An "opioid antagonist" is an FDA-approved drug that, when administered, negates or neutralizes the effects of an opioid. The opioid antagonist is limited to naloxone or other medications approved by the Health Department for this purpose.
Section 2 - Provides the effective date.
Justification
Drug poisoning is the leading cause of death from injuries in the United States. In New York State and New York City, between 1999 and 2008 the leading cause of accidental death was overdose, ahead of accidental falls and motor vehicle accidents. The vast majority of these overdose deaths occurred inside the home. According to a 2013 study in the International Journal of Drug Policy by the New York City Department of Mental Health and Hygiene, drug poisoning deaths involving opioid analgesics, also known as prescription pain relievers, have more than tripled nationally since 1999 and doubled in NYC since 2005, with the rate of unintentional opioid analgesic overdose deaths increasing by 65% between 2005 and 2011 in New York City. Additionally, eighty percent of heroin users have reported that they abused opioid analgesics before switching to heroin. Between 2005 and 2009, the rate of deaths caused by prescription opioid poisoning increased by 20% per 100,000 in New York City, while the heroin poisoning death rate decreased by 24%.
Opioid antagonists are drugs that reverse the effects of opioids, and are effective in preventing overdose deaths. The availability of an opioid antagonist is crucial in ensuring that overdose deaths do not occur. However, an opioid antagonist can only be effective as an antidote if it is readily accessible when an overdose is happening. Currently, opioid antagonists can only be used if they are prescribed by a doctor. Educating a patient about the risks of overdose from a prescription painkiller, as well as about the availability of naloxone, is an important step in ensuring that the patient safely uses the medication. This legislation provides an opportunity to decrease the probability of overdoses by individuals who may become addicted to painkillers as a result of a long-term prescription. PRIOR LEGISLATIVE HISTORY :
2015-2016: A.7812 - Referred to Health.
Fiscal implications
None.
Effective date
This act shall take effect on the one hundred twentieth day after it shall have become a law; provided, however, that effective immediately, the addition, amendment and/or repeal of any rule or regulation necessary for the implementation of this act on its effective date is authorized and directed to be made and completed on or before such effective date.
Summaries, headlines and scores are AI-generated from the official bill text. How we score bills. Source: NYS Open Legislation.