Good bill: Lawmakers should approve proposed bill on opioid controls

A bill introduced last week in the state Legislature would put even tighter controls on prescription drugs that are opioid-based than now exist. Proponents say the measure would help see to it that there is less opioid abuse among the public.

We agree with the sponsors of the bill and believe legislators should make it law with haste. Opioid drug abuse is currently on a dramatic rise, and the new controls are needed to help stem the growing number of people who are chemically dependent on the drugs.

Controls on how opioid painkillers are dispensed are already in place, and most doctors and pharmacists abide by them. But the new legislation would place even stricter limits on the use of these powerful drugs.

Many times, the use of such drugs opens the door to the use of illegal drugs, such as heroin. Heroin use also is up dramatically, especially among young people.

We must do what we can to stem the growing tide of opioid abuse. By passing such legislation as this, we can get a tighter grip on the use of these drugs and see to it that only those people who truly need them get them.

Published in Editorials on March 4, 2017 11:41 PM