Bill > H2117

This bill aims to regulate the use of benzodiazepines and non-benzodiazepine hypnotics, which are drugs primarily used to treat insomnia, anxiety, and other conditions. The key provisions are: 1. Defining "benzodiazepine" and "non-benzodiazepine hypnotic" in the state's controlled substances law. 2. Requiring pharmacists to include a cautionary statement on the label of these prescriptions about the risks of long-term use. 3. Mandating the Department of Public Health to produce and distribute educational pamphlets about the misuse, abuse, and risks of these drugs, which pharmacists must provide to patients. 4. Prohibiting the refilling of prescriptions for less than a 10-day supply of these drugs. 5. Requiring practitioners to obtain written informed consent from patients before prescribing these drugs, outlining the risks. 6. Directing the Department of Public Health to establish protocols for safely discontinuing the use of these drugs and minimizing withdrawal symptoms, while not mandating that patients currently prescribed them must discontinue use. 7. Establishing a special commission to study these discontinuation protocols further and provide recommendations within 4 months.

Health and Social Services

https://malegislature.gov/Bills/192/H2117