Bill > H2223

This bill addresses benzodiazepines and non-benzodiazepine hypnotics, which are prescription medications primarily used to treat conditions like insomnia, anxiety, and convulsions. The bill introduces several key provisions to regulate these drugs more carefully: it establishes clear definitions for benzodiazepines (like alprazolam and diazepam) and non-benzodiazepine hypnotics (like zolpidem), requires pharmacists to include a bolded cautionary statement about long-term use risks on prescription labels, mandates that the Department of Public Health create and distribute educational pamphlets about these medications to pharmacies, and requires practitioners to obtain written informed consent from patients before prescribing these drugs. Additionally, the bill restricts prescriptions for less than a 10-day supply from being refilled, requires the Department of Public Health to establish protocols for safely discontinuing these medications, and creates a special commission to study protocols for safely tapering off these drugs while minimizing withdrawal symptoms. The bill aims to improve patient safety, reduce potential misuse, and provide comprehensive education about the risks associated with benzodiazepines and similar medications.

Health and Social Services

https://malegislature.gov/Bills/194/H2223