Bill > H3944

This bill aims to enhance substance use treatment, education, and prevention efforts by implementing several key provisions. It mandates that law enforcement officers receive training on responding to overdose calls and applying relevant laws related to controlled substances. The bill also requires healthcare providers to offer more comprehensive information about medication-assisted therapies and the availability of such treatments. A significant aspect is the establishment of a "voluntary non-opiate directive form" allowing individuals to indicate a preference against receiving opiate prescriptions, with specific guidelines for its use and recording in medical records. Furthermore, the bill introduces limitations on initial opiate prescriptions for adults and minors to a 7-day supply, with exceptions for specific medical conditions, and requires practitioners to document the reasons for prescribing extended-release, long-acting opioids that are not designed to deter abuse. It also mandates substance abuse evaluations for individuals presenting with opiate-related overdoses or who have received naloxone, and requires acute-care hospitals to report on child exposure to controlled substances. The bill also establishes a Massachusetts Council on Substance Use Disorder Prevention and Treatment to coordinate and oversee efforts in this area, and mandates that schools develop and publicize substance use prevention policies. Finally, it revises definitions and procedures related to involuntary commitment for alcohol and substance use disorders, and requires the development of a transportation plan for recovery high schools.