1 of 1
HOUSE DOCKET, NO. 2506 FILED ON: 1/19/2023
HOUSE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . No. 1998
The Commonwealth of Massachusetts
_________________
PRESENTED BY:
David Henry Argosky LeBoeuf and Mindy Domb
_________________
To the Honorable Senate and House of Representatives of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts in General
Court assembled:
The undersigned legislators and/or citizens respectfully petition for the adoption of the accompanying bill:
An Act relative to reducing the risk of unintended fatal opioid overdose.
_______________
PETITION OF:
NAME:DISTRICT/ADDRESS :DATE ADDED:David Henry Argosky LeBoeuf17th Worcester1/19/2023Mindy Domb3rd Hampshire1/19/2023Vanna Howard17th Middlesex1/31/2023 1 of 2
HOUSE DOCKET, NO. 2506 FILED ON: 1/19/2023
HOUSE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . No. 1998
By Representatives LeBoeuf of Worcester and Domb of Amherst, a petition (accompanied by
bill, House, No. 1998) of David Henry Argosky LeBoeuf, Mindy Domb and Vanna Howard
relative to reducing the risks of unintended fatal opioid overdoses. Mental Health, Substance
Use and Recovery.
[SIMILAR MATTER FILED IN PREVIOUS SESSION
SEE HOUSE, NO. 2110 OF 2021-2022.]
The Commonwealth of Massachusetts
_______________
In the One Hundred and Ninety-Third General Court
(2023-2024)
_______________
An Act relative to reducing the risk of unintended fatal opioid overdose.
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives in General Court assembled, and by the authority
of the same, as follows:
1 Chapter 111 of the General Laws is hereby amended by adding the following section:-
2Section 238. Prior to issuing a prescription of an opioid which is a controlled substance as set
3forth in section 31 of chapter 94C, a practitioner shall discuss with the patient, or the patient's
4parent or guardian if the patient is under 18 years of age and is not an emancipated minor, the
5risks for unintentional opioid overdose associated with the medication, including but not limited
6to: (i) taking more opioids than prescribed; (ii) the dangers of mixing opioids with alcohol,
7benzodiazepines such as Klonopin, Valium, and Xanax, other central nervous system
8depressants, and other forms of poly-drug use; (iii) alternative treatments that may be available.
9The physician will also discuss the risk of opioid dependence as a result of prescription use. 2 of 2
10 To avoid unintentional fatal overdose, the practitioner shall reconcile all patient
11medications prior to prescribing opioids. The practitioner will require the patient to sign an
12acknowledgement that the patient, or the patient's parent or guardian, as applicable, has (i)
13discussed with the practitioner the risks of developing a physical or psychological dependence on
14opioids, and (ii) understands the ways in which their alcohol use or other prescriptions may
15increase the risk for fatal opioid overdose.